EXCERPT FROM: News Times
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Early education programs such as pre-kindergarten are increasing in North Dakota thanks to federal aid, but officials are still searching for a long-term funding source.
The state has received nearly $30 million in stimulus money that can be used for early childhood education or pre-kindergarten programming. The number of school districts with pre-K programs has increased from seven to 40.
"We've seen a huge spike," said Laurie Matzke, who directs federal Title I programs for the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.
The federal aid lasts only two years. Matzke said districts that started pre-K programs this year did so with the hope that the state soon will fund the programs across North Dakota.
The 2009 Legislature cut an amendment in the primary education bill that would have funded a pilot pre-K program.
"I think the momentum is building out there for something to change," said state Head Start Administrator Linda Rorman. "How it's going to be funded or how much, I don't know."
Rorman is on a 21-member committee on early education that is headed by Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple. The federally mandated group first meets on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the North Dakota Commission on Education Improvement — a group of legislators and educational leaders — is exploring whether to bring any pre-K initiatives to the 2011 Legislature.
North Dakota recently received $1.2 million in federal aid for Early Head Start programs in the southwestern part of the state. The state has eight such programs serving about 500 infants, toddlers and pregnant women, and more than a dozen Head Start programs serving nearly 3,000 children.
"If we can provide this kind of early education support for families, by the time these kids reach kindergarten age, they should be better off," said Sharon Hansen with Dickinson-based Community Action Partnership, which oversees the Head Start and Early Head Start programs in that region.