The Texas House recently got a first reading of House Bill 130 authored by Reps. Patrick Eissler Anchia Pitts and Thompson. HB 130 calls for an enhanced full-day kindergarten program provided by public school districts in conjunction with community providers. A companion bill SB 21 has been filed in the Senate by Zaffirini.
The Austin American Statesman reported that HB 130 will cost an additional $390 million in Fiscal Year 2010-2011 to increase to $584.7 million in Fiscal Year 2012-13. The bill requires that full-day pre-k programs be offered and also stipulates a partnership with Head Start and private providers as well as class-size limits teacher certification and an approved curriculum.
A 2006 study by the Texas Public Policy Foundation reported that approximately 50 of four-year-olds participate in a state-funded pre-k or special education program 11 participate in Head Start and 35 attend a private pre-k program. The report went on to add that a 2005 study by Stanford-UC Berkeley showed that center-based preschool has a negative effect on social skills particularly for low-income students.
In a March 2009 report for ABCs 20/20 John Stossel said that The government thinks it can do a better job with a universal pre-k program but dont they have enough problems running K-12 education?
While Stossels report focused on using federal aid to fund a universal pre-k program the logic applies just as well to Texas education.
The Texas Comptrollers website reports that Texas ranks #49 in verbal SAT scores and #46 in math SAT scores nationally.
Supporters of a universal government run pre-k program argue that pre-k is the best way to reach minority and low income students and avoid letting them fall through the cracks. Supporters also argue that students enrolled in a pre-k program are more likely to be productive members of society with higher paying jobs.
However a study conducted by the Arlington Virginia based Lexington Institute stated that In the District of Columbia with 90 charter school campuses serving one-third of all public school children highly effective and often innovative early childhood programs are a big reason charters have gotten so popular and grown so quickly.
Targeted programs such as those underway in many inner-city charters make more sense as a way to help disadvantaged children by means of early schooling than do big government programs that squeeze out choice and diminish the role of parents through arbitrary measure of program quality.
Stossels report concluded that while some states have implemented state run pre-k programs the benefits are not necessarily positive. Studies indicate that students immersed in too much pre-k may be the cause of disruptive and aggressive behavior in elementary school. Oklahoma home to a government run pre-k program has seen a drop in performance.
Positive results of a pre-k program also fade as students progress in school.
By the second third & fourth grade they cant tell the difference between the kids that went to Head Start and the kids who didnt said Lisa Snell education director of the Reason Foundation.
The Texas House recently got a first reading of House Bill 130 authored by Reps. Patrick Eissler Anchia Pitts and Thompson. HB 130 calls for an enhanced full-day kindergarten program provided by public school districts in conjunction with community providers. A companion bill SB 21 has been filed in the Senate by Zaffirini.
The Austin American Statesman reported that HB 130 will cost an additional $390 million in Fiscal Year 2010-2011 to increase to $584.7 million in Fiscal Year 2012-13. The bill requires that full-day pre-k programs be offered and also stipulates a partnership with Head Start and private providers as well as class-size limits teacher certification and an approved curriculum.
A 2006 study by the Texas Public Policy Foundation reported that approximately 50 of four-year-olds participate in a state-funded pre-k or special education program 11 participate in Head Start and 35 attend a private pre-k program. The report went on to add that a 2005 study by Stanford-UC Berkeley showed that center-based preschool has a negative effect on social skills particularly for low-income students.
In a March 2009 report for ABCs 20/20 John Stossel said that The government thinks it can do a better job with a universal pre-k program but dont they have enough problems running K-12 education?
While Stossels report focused on using federal aid to fund a universal pre-k program the logic applies just as well to Texas education.
The Texas Comptrollers website reports that Texas ranks #49 in verbal SAT scores and #46 in math SAT scores nationally.
Supporters of a universal government run pre-k program argue that pre-k is the best way to reach minority and low income students and avoid letting them fall through the cracks. Supporters also argue that students enrolled in a pre-k program are more likely to be productive members of society with higher paying jobs.
However a study conducted by the Arlington Virginia based Lexington Institute stated that In the District of Columbia with 90 charter school campuses serving one-third of all public school children highly effective and often innovative early childhood programs are a big reason charters have gotten so popular and grown so quickly.
Targeted programs such as those underway in many inner-city charters make more sense as a way to help disadvantaged children by means of early schooling than do big government programs that squeeze out choice and diminish the role of parents through arbitrary measure of program quality.
Stossels report concluded that while some states have implemented state run pre-k programs the benefits are not necessarily positive. Studies indicate that students immersed in too much pre-k may be the cause of disruptive and aggressive behavior in elementary school. Oklahoma home to a government run pre-k program has seen a drop in performance.
Positive results of a pre-k program also fade as students progress in school.
By the second third & fourth grade they cant tell the difference between the kids that went to Head Start and the kids who didnt said Lisa Snell education director of the Reason Foundation.
