Greg Abbott promotes improving quality of pre-K over expanding access, full-day classes

[TexasTowelie]

Texas should invest first in improving the quality of prekindergarten before opening the door for more students to attend full-day classes, GOP gubernatorial Greg Abbott announced on Monday.

“Expanding the population of students served by existing state-funded programs without addressing the quality of existing prekindergarten instruction or how it is being delivered would be an act of negligence and waste,” according to an Abbott policy proposal, which provides the first glimpse into his education ideas.

To improve local prekindergarten offerings, Abbott’s would support providing an additional $1,500 per student for school districts that agree to implement a “gold standard” program. That program would include a rigorous curriculum, staff requirements and assessments to measure the program’s effectiveness.

“Any increased investment in state-funded pre-k must tie outcomes to funding, and must provide incentives for private providers to offer high quality kindergarten programs that meet the educational goals established by the state,” the policy proposal continues.

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/greg-abbott-promotes-improving-quality-of-prek-ove/nfPRY/ .

[font color=green]The article states that the cost over two years for the Abbott proposal is $118 million. Meanwhile, Wendy Davis has proposed an expansion of pre-K classes to all eligible children at a cost of $750 million.

So which agencies will be affected in order for Abbott to fund his proposal since he will most likely veto any tax increases? Also, why does a rigorous curriculum need to be developed for pre-K programs and why would the state need to develop assessments to measure those programs? It seems like another corporate welfare scheme to direct funds to the corporations that would develop the testing programs and methodologies for those assessments. This action seems to counter Tea Party politics that advocate for the removal of government from the classrooms.

Finally, as the article also noted there is a certain amount of hypocrisy for Abbott to speak about improving the quality of pre-K programs when as attorney general he is defending the state for cuts that were already made in pre-K programs.[/fonts]

[DhhD]

1. Apparently he is making up a lie.

And this may sound petti but it would be quite expensive to pay some business to pick up all of these children at the end of the morning. All day kindergarten would be so much better, with end of school, in line with the rest of the elementary children.

[hobbit709]

2. Abbott wouldn't know quality anything if it bit him on the ass-repeatedly.