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In the first school year of the grant, the school board may receive up to $3,000 for each 4-year-old kindergarten pupil; in the succeeding school year, $1,500 per 4-year-old pupil. If funds are insufficient, the department may prorate the payments.

The department is required to promulgate rules for the program and particularly to define "community approaches to early education" as school boards that use this approach must receive preference in receiving funds.

So the rule, as dutifully defined by the Department of Public Instruction encourages a “community approach” to early education – which DPI defines:

The school district shall have at least one site of the school district’s 4K program at a non-school district site, not including a private home, or on a school district site administered by a community based provider…. The contract or agreement shall define all of the following roles and responsibilities related to the 4K program operation: [follows, a substantial lists of do’s and don’ts for child care providers.]

Of course

The rule proposal is based on extensive research and developed through cooperation among four of the department’s divisions, with input from two other state agencies. It builds on past successes and incorporates plans and efforts endorsed by the Forces for Four-Year Olds Advisory Committee.

(Some of that research is linked by DPI here.)

School districts are jumping over one another to be first in line for their piece of the $3 million. It doesn’t matter that many of these same school districts are struggling with deficits - and the resulting staff and program cuts. Here’s just one example:

The district [Two Rivers] already was facing a $417,000 deficit for next year and needed an additional $213,000 for full implementation of 4K. The board eventually chose to cut some teaching and administration positions, as well as technology, curriculum, building budgets and athletic budgets, to make up for the costs.

Or this, from Racine Unified – which in recent years has not been your model of upstanding fiscal management.

According to the five-year budget forecast, the district will start paying back a loan taken out to start Unified’s four-year-old kindergarten program, which is the biggest reason the district faces a deficit in 2009. [Emphasis is mine]

Some school districts actually point out that the 4K program is a cash cow, costing less than the state will reimburse. Alert taxpayers point out that no matter what portion of 4K programs the state funds, those funds are still coming from the taxpayer. So the argument is proffered: “yes, but right now other districts are getting that grant money and we are not.” Good reason to go after those grants and expand public school offerings in a time of ever-increasing school deficit challenges.

But here’s the best argument I ran across yet. The State Constitution told me to do it.

[Article X Section 3.] The legislature shall provide by law for the establishment of district schools, which shall be as nearly uniform as practicable; and such schools shall be free and without charge for tuition to all children between the ages of 4 and 20 years….

So will the next budget include grants to jump-start free tech or college degree programs for all 18 and 19 year-olds? (Hmmm. Indiana wants to do it...)

While I question the recent rants here in FP about the fright that "the teachers are getting everything", the more concrete questions involve the substance of American education as a whole... hardly a topic to discuss in this little box.

Lon Ponschock (Fri Apr 18 11:35:55 2008)

It seems to me the real issue here is not whether some students would benefit from 4K, but rather, which ones and how many. While some students, particularly those where English is a 2nd language have issues that need to be addressed, this is not a rationale for 4K for all students. Further, there is little evidence to suggest that "the work force is terribly undereducated and our emphasis on education is waning."

Communities in Wisconsin have made a tremendous commitment to funding educational priorities and our commitment to education is laudible when median incomes in the state are considered. We need to do a better job developing strategies to insure that standards are maintained and to best utilize the resources already committed to funding local schools. It is interesting to note that research data finds little or no correlation between per student spending and educational outcomes in any event. In my estimation encouraging and rewarding innovation are every bit as important as adding money to the system.

Bill Welch (Fri Apr 18 12:05:27 2008)

Hear hear Marcus Aurelius!!!

Dave, you are so predictable....

Lon, I thought you were predictable, but....

Bill, you are exactly right on. Kudos. Hopefully I can get a piece together expanding on the work Appleton is doing to target services where needed, in lieu of mandatory 4K.

Jo E. (Fri Apr 18 13:03:26)

And, so what is wrong with "free daycare"? In an era where two income families are a necessity for many couples and where single parents must work (remember W-2) who cares for the children? What is wrong with "free daycare" which is paid for by the taxpayers who are working instead of on welfare? And, as far as being predictable? I guess if my positions are well thought out and researched and correct then I guess I am predictable. Otherwise, I have no philosophy that guides me except cause and effect, cost and benefit.

dave allen (Fri Apr 18 17:56:19 2008)

Touche. Good point Dave. I'm glad you have a strong set of principled beliefs that don't change with the wind. "Free Day Care" is free day care for those that qualify for the programs you mention. And yes, some 4 year-olds (10 - 20%) will need a head start - usually it's an issue of English not being spoken in their home. So ok, let's give those kids who need a Head Start (!) - a head start. But let's not make it mandatory. What program in the state (perhaps in the education budget) would you suggest has a lower priority than 4-year-old kindergarten that the state should give up to bring in 4K?

Jo E. (Fri Apr 18 19:09:12)

Jo,
I've already looked at the QEO but you and I both recognize that agreement is unlikely to change. we have a lottery that is supposed to go to property tax relief so that schools are supported. The argument can be made that a Lottery is not part of the education budget yet it supports schools. I submit that we cut way back on prisons and prison sentences (for certain crimes). The savings would be astounding.

dave allen (Sat Apr 19 07:15:38 2008)

When will it end. Four year old day care is all it is. Will it stop? Can we stop it? It's a runaway freight train right now. Heaven help Wisconsin taxpayers.

Paul Berry Laker (Sat Apr 19 07:58:31 2008)

Cut back on prison sentences. Hmmm. Do you think you'd need to use any of the savings to fund rehab, and/or drug and alcohol addictions? Would/should any of the savings be used for tech school for lawbreakers?
Which crimes?

Jo E. (Sat Apr 19 11:35:54)

Jo,
Yes, money saved by having a rational law enforcement system and prison system should be used for rehab, work release etc. At the cost per prisoner that we pay today there would be plenty to go around. We incarcerate a higher percentage of our population than any other industrialized country in the world! What a waste of money and human potential.

dave allen (Sun Apr 20 16:39:30 2008)

RE: Prisons---
Dave, I hear what you say, and in principle agree with your comments.

However, I know too many of the people that are in jail. They are criminals, and are sent to prison/jail as a very last resort. Education will not help to empty jails.

Dale (Thu Apr 24 22:42:32 2008)

Jo, re Dale's comments. Criminality is not a function of protection of society, it is a function of the law. We have created laws that create criminals out of people who in prior time would not have been criminals and would have been productive members of society. In the early 20th century private use of cocaine was legal, until the 1930s, growing hemp (not marijuana) was legal. The fact is that our laws particularly in the area of drugs are the result of some Puritanical ideal that has nothing to do with protecting society. Ron Paul and other former or current Libertarians have it right with regard to drug policy.


dave allen (Fri Apr 25 20:53:13 2008)

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