Oklahoma Preschools and US Education Plans

[OKCTalker]

Oklahoma Is Public Preschool's Test Case - WSJ.com

This link is to a story about Oklahoma's public preschool program, and how is is being held as the nationwide model. A graphic shows that 73.5% of Oklahoma four-year-olds are enrolled in state preschool programs, second in the country behind Florida at 76.0%, with a U.S. average of 28%. Here are a handful of excerpts from the story:

"Many Oklahoma children now arrive in elementary school so well prepared that some districts have overhauled their kindergarten curricula."

"But critics, including some congressional Republicans, point to other data and research - some focused on Oklahoma - that show academic gains realized in preschool often fade by third grade."

"And the program comes at a price - about $3,900 in direct state aid per pupil, which is then supplemented with other local and federal funds."

"Some local school officials across the state state complain that a decline in state education spending has slowed expansion of education programs, including preschool. In 2008, the state spent $4,244 per child on preschool, compared with $3,461 in 2011."

"Janet Barresi, superintendent of public instruction, said she wouldn't take the federal money with the strings. "Let us keep our tax dollars, and we will do a better job of educating the children in our state," she said in an email."

[SoonerDave]

"Janet Barresi, superintendent of public instruction, said she wouldn't take the federal money with the strings. "Let us keep our tax dollars, and we will do a better job of educating the children in our state," she said in an email."

I know there are widely varying opinions of Janet Barresi, but all other aspects of those opinions aside, I love that statement.