New Bill Proposes Free Universal Pre-Kindergarten Classes
BOSTON (CBS/AP) – For Rebecca and Mike Fishbein of Jamaica Plain, free universal pre-kindergarten classes would not just relieve them of the financial burden of paying for twin 3 ½-year-old sons to attend private pre-kindergarten.
"It would mean that our kids would be entering into the world with a love of learning and really exposed to that a lot sooner than two working parents can do on a regular basis," Rebecca Fishbein told WBZ-TV.
A bill unveiled on Tuesday would allow school districts to develop universal pre-kindergarten programs and submit them for funding under the state's Chapter 70 educational formula. The programs would be phased in over five years, with priority given to school districts with the most children in need of access to early education.
Supporters of the measure pointed to statistics that show 39 percent of third-graders in Massachusetts are not reading at grade level but those with access to early education programs are far more likely to succeed in public school. They also said students from low-income families who participate in early education are 40 percent less likely to require special education services, 30 percent more likely to graduate from high school and twice as likely to go to college.
To the Fishbeins, the push for pre-kindergarten for all that kicked off at the State House Tuesday is a no-brainer, promising thousands of kids the head start they need and, in the long run, paying off in higher achievement and less social dysfunction.
"I am willing to pay more taxes and I agree that an investment in the beginning will be better economically than playing catch up at the end," said Mike Fishbein.
But that's the problem for this latest effort to bring universal pre-K to Massachusetts – the cost, and how to pay for it.
Asked about the issue Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker reiterated his campaign vow to keep new taxes off the table.
"We're committed to that no new taxes agenda and we're gonna stay there," Baker said.
When asked about its finances, the bill's lead sponsor Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz (D-Boston) said she didn't want to talk about it.
"When [President John F.] Kennedy announced the beginning of the space program in the 1960s, we didn't cost it out and say 'do we have this money on hand' before we did it," she said.
And Jim Stergios, executive director of the right-leaning Pioneer Institute think-tank (and former professional home of Baker's Secretary of Education, Jim Peyser), calls the bill "a political non-starter. It's not going anywhere."
Stergios predicts the bill will fail in part because of the fiscal constraints imposed by what Gov. Baker says is a $765 million budget deficit.
"The best thing we could do on this issue is try to address the 17,000 kids who really need access to it and make some really bold changes in our K-12 system," said Stergios.
Some of the politicians showing support for expanded pre-kindergarten at today's press conference told us afterwards the bill might have better luck next year if the budget gap has cleared up and the economy has improved.
And while it may be frustrating for parents who need help right now to hear, a year or more of waiting is actually fast service by Beacon Hill standards.
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