A grand (statewide) pre-K experiment

[hrmjustin]

Jessica Bakeman

Lost in the city-centric coverage of the state’s expansion of pre-kindergarten is the fact that areas all over New York will be engaging in an ambitious experiment, too.

It involves community organizations like YMCAs and day care centers, which have long played a role in delivering state-funded pre-kindergarten programs and which, under a new $340 million grant program approved in the state budget, will have a new degree of independence.

New York has been slowly increasing access to pre-K since the 1990s, but lawmakers have never allocated enough money to achieve universality. In recent years, the state has spent about $400 million annually on pre-K, serving about half of the state’s four-year-olds in half-day programs. The state significantly upped that investment in this year’s budget, when a push from New York City mayor Bill de Blasio prompted leaders to earmark an additional $300 million for full-day pre-K in the five boroughs and $40 million for the rest of the state.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/magazine/2014/07/8548082/grand-statewide-pre-k-experiment?top-featured-3

[Squinch]

1. I pray to God that they don't make this just another academic year, and they let these

kids do age-appropriate learning things without being tested or being required to sit at desks for 7 hours a day.

I feel like we need to have pitchfork-and-torch protests in the street where we chant, "Bring back finger painting! Bring back Duck-Duck-Goose! Bring back scissors and paste! Bring back singing songs! Bring back playground time!"

[hrmjustin]

2. I hope they make the most of it as well. They have a great chance to make an impression on

these kids. I hope the make something of it.

[hrmjustin]

3. City Begins Hiring Teachers For New Pre-Kindergarten Programs

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/07/07/city-begins-hiring-teachers-for-new-pre-kindergarten-programs/