Pre-K Now Organization

Pre-K Now and child advocates across the country recognize that the most important people we work for are children and families. Parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, and uncles all want the best for the children in their lives. Finding affordable, high-quality pre-k can be a significant challenge.

Pre-K funding is a nationwide issue. Each and every state has a different approach to funding and supporting the program. No doubt we want what’s best for our children but due to finances within the home high quality early childhood programs are not attainable.
Through the Pre-K Now organization a checklist is provided to help assist parents with choosing a high-quality program. The checklist can be printed or downloaded at: http://www.preknow.org/families/findprek/find.cfm

I’m currently following the pre-k cut backs and issues that have affected my state. I know many teachers whose hours and benefits were cut which is forcing many of them to look for alternative positions.

I also had an opportunity to work at two different schools in my county in pre-k classes this week. One was in an area with predominately white children of a wealthier socioeconomic status. I witnessed higher standards for these students and there was more parent involvement. Then I worked in an inner-city school with higher poverty and almost no parent involvement. The discipline issues occurred more frequently and there appeared to be fewer expectations for these students. I am aware of the economic differences related to the two schools, but what disappointed me was the standards were nhot the same.