DES MOINES – State Senator Amanda Ragan says that Iowa kids are benefiting from a program that makes preschool more accessible, but more kids need to be accommodated.
According to Senator Ragan, since 2007, Iowa’s Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program has worked to make preschool available to all students from all backgrounds. School districts collaborate with a variety of state, federal and community partners, including Head Start and Shared Visions, as well as faith-based, private and non-profit preschools.
Prior to the current program, only 19 percent of 3 and 4-year-old children in Iowa received a high-quality preschool education. By the fall of 2012, almost 55 percent of preschool age children were receiving the benefits of the statewide preschool initiative, which provides at least 10 hours per week of age-appropriate instruction.
Two recent reports show positive results for students who attend the state preschool classes. Fewer students from low-income families who attend the state preschool require intensive intervention after they enter kindergarten. Children who attend preschool are less likely to drop out of school, repeat grades, need special education or get into trouble with the law than children who do not attend preschool.
However, not all preschool age children are able to attend Iowa’s Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program. For that reason, the Senate Education Committee is working on legislation to ensure universal access to preschool for all 4-year-olds in Iowa.
I agree that pre-school programs help, but none of it matters if the kids return to overwhelmingly ignorant and abusive home situations afterwards. One good day of pre-school can automatically be wiped out, when crazy cigarette smoking mother starts bitching and yelling, or drunk and drugged father starts up. Heck the parent’s don’t even need to be drunk or drugged and they can still do damage. I’d say it takes a more comprehensive approach than just pre-school can offer. I think legislators need to create a TOTAL IMMERSION program for parents and children that includes counselors and therapists.