LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY

CONSENSUS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION MEETINGS

Question 1. Should Baltimore County increase support for home literacy education activities?

The consensus was that, while all favored increased support, they felt that realistically LWV should focus on all-day kindergarten and pre-K programs for 3 and 4 year-olds. Most appreciated the value of offering parent education and assisting parents to help their children with pre-literacy and enrichment activities. Some thought volunteers could be trained to perform this service. Members felt that it was important to provide this service to the families in greatest need.

Question 2. Should Baltimore County provide pre-K for all children (4 year olds) or only for disadvantaged children and children with special needs?

Question 3. Should Baltimore County provide all-day kindergarten? For all students? Only for disadvantaged children?

The consensus was that all-day kindergarten should be for all children. As stated in the Thornton Commission recommendations and passed by the legislature, all districts will offer all-day kindergarten beginning next year. Since state funding for Thornton is only guaranteed for two years, members agreed that Baltimore County should fund all-day kindergarten after two years if state funds are not available.

Question 4. How should pre-K and all day kindergarten be funded?

The consensus was that federal, state, and local funds should be used for these programs. The strong consensus was that they should be funded from general revenues. All tax, lottery, and other money sources should go into general revenues and all expenditures should come out of general revenues. Education benefits the whole populations regardless of whether a person has children in school or not, therefore it should be paid for by all. Some expressed the view that these early childhood programs should not be funded at the expense of art, music and physical education or before and after school care. All should be funded.

Question 5. Should the LWVBCo support the change in date of kindergarten entry from the present December 31st date to the proposed September 1st date?

Most agreed that September 1st should be the entry date. No one was opposed to the change but some were not certain that it would make any real difference. It is not known if there might be negative effects upon children who are clearly ready for kindergarten but would not be allowed to attend.

General Comments: Many people were concerned that early childhood programs might be too academic. They discussed the importance and value of ÒplayÓ for 3 and 4 year olds. The schools should guard against too much academic pressure for young children.

The groups emphasized the need for small classes and individual attention. Some felt strongly that all the various agencies dealing with children and families should be under the auspices of one central agency that would coordinate all services dealing with children and families Ð health, nutrition, early childhood, etc. Ð similar to Montgomery CountyÕs structure.