The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence emphasizes that early childhood education is the method to improve the entire educational system in Kentucky.
That's why a panel of education leaders recommends that pre-kindergarten should be expanded to include children 3 and 4 years old whose families live at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The state's current preschool program serves 4-year-old children whose families live below 150 percent of poverty level, and children ages 3 and 4 with disabilities.
"Investing in a child's early years is the smartest way Kentucky can improve education for all and head off problems in the future," executive director Robert Sexton said. "It's time to take the next step: quality, voluntary preschool for all who want it, and improved and adequately funded early childhood programs for families and children."
The panel of roughly 50 people included school board members, teachers and administrators. It focused on increasing access to preschool, improving the quality of early child care and education programs, and encouraging collaboration between public and community-based or private programs.
The group plans to meet with the General Assembly's interim joint education committee next week to discuss the report, and it will meet with other legislators and the winner of the gubernatorial election in the coming weeks.
Steve Beshear, the Democratic candidate for governor, supports the group's key goal of expanding preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds.
"Beshear is pleased to read that he shares a number of common goals with the Prichard Committee when it comes to investing in early care and education programs," said his spokeswoman, Vicki Glass.
In his campaign platform, Gov. Ernie Fletcher endorses preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds from families living at 150 percent of the poverty level.
"The recommendations of the report are consistent with the efforts of my administration over the last four years, and our goals for the future," Fletcher said in a statement. "We will continue to work with our agencies, advocacy groups and citizens to take concrete steps forward, improving services, certification and the education and of our young children."
The group also made funding recommendations for these programs: $1 million toward scholarships for early child-care and education workers, and $7 million toward the voluntary HANDS home-visitation program for new or expectant at-risk parents to discuss educational options for their children. The group also recommended an additional $8.7 million to Stars for Kids Now, a rating system for certain child-care centers.