Posted on 03/04/2006 9:21:07 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
INDIANAPOLIS -- A report by a national group pushing for early childhood education for all American children blames Gov. Mitch Daniels for Indiana's lack of support for such programs.
The report released Friday by Washington-based Pre-K Now details the gains and losses for pre-kindergarten programs nationwide in 2005, and contends that Daniels has stalled any progress made in previous years in establishing early-childhood education in Indiana.
"Indiana is one of only nine states that provide no state funding for pre-k or Head Start, and Governor Mitch Daniels has not yet addressed this serious neglect," the report states.
Daniels said Friday he not seen the report, but said he has not forgotten about early-childhood education. He said that in the 2007 legislative session he plans to move forward with an initiative for full-day kindergarten, which also has yet to gain much ground in Indiana.
He said was unfair to say he has brought the discussion to a standstill when he has been in office for only a year.
"First, we had to fix the bankruptcy and as soon as we have done that, paid the schools back the money they were owed, immediately I'm going to move to new investments in education and at the early stages," Daniels said.
In their report, Pre-K Now identified 10 conditions that create a favorable environment for pre-K support. One of the conditions is the governor of a state, who has the power to set agenda priorities and stimulate public debate on important issues, the report states.
Libby Doggett, executive director of Pre-K Now, said the states surrounding Indiana "are moving in some direction on providing pre-k but Daniels has brought the state's discussion to a virtual standstill."
The report compares Daniels with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who has pushed for access to pre-k for all children in Illinois. It states that "despite tough fiscal times, Governor Blagojevich held to his commitments and made the case for pre-k."
Last year, Illinois approved another $30 million for early childhood education and had a $273 million early-childhood education budget for fiscal year 2006. Its pre-K program began in 1985 to serve at-risk students, but will expand to give access to all 3- and 4-year-olds.
The money also supports programs for children from birth to age 3.
Indiana's other neighbors -- Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan -- also provide money for state pre-K programs, generally those serving at-risk students, the report found.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed has been a longtime supporter of early-childhood education, but money hasn't been available for new programs, said Indiana Department of Education spokeswoman Mary Tiede Wilhelmus.
She said she expects the issue will be a priority for Reed and the Department of Education again next year when the state works out a new biennial budget.
The liberals want to indoctrinate early, this is what it's all about. Kudos to IN Governor for taking a stand.
First it's 'pre-k' - then, it's 'pre-pre-k'....then it's a state run insemination program...
The governor may be onto something here.
Pre-K by the educational establishment is just a money grab and more people employed by the establishment in order to indoctrinate the children at an earlier age. Wean them away from the parents at an earlier and earlier age.
Daniels actually favors full day kindergarden. Daniels is a big RINO in many ways.
You're both right. I've been fighting this for over 10 years. They are hoping for an '08 win for Dems, so watch carefully because they are preparing to try to blindside us. They hoodwinked Floridians into mandatory preK for all kids in the system using the murder of a 4 yr. old to convince the voters that she wouldn't have been killed if she'd been in preschool. That was a couple of years ago, I think. But they are sneaky and will use any underhanded means they can to put universal preK in place state-by-state.
Keep fighting, neighbor- small children need to be with their families- not the State.
The Governor ought to be praised for resisting early childhood indoctrination.
"(Daniels) said that in the 2007 legislative session he plans to move forward with an initiative for full-day kindergarten, which also has yet to gain much ground in Indiana. "
Daniels is apologizing for not moving faster on this issue.
Mandatory K and pre-K are State attacks on the family. The statists want all production units to be thoroughly indoctrinated.
Fear the government,it is always about using force to have its way.
Since when is Pre K the same as K........have things changed since my children growed up!! /s/
Isn't that what welfare already is?
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