Universal Preschool Research Paper

The preschool experience for four year olds in United States is widely varied. Typically a trained staff provides activities which move students toward preparedness for kindergarten. In describing preschools, various terminologies may be used. A garden-variety preschool usually refers to private programs that are open to students of all demographics. The phrase target programs address a particular group of students, often geared toward the disadvantaged or poor. Head Start, Abecedarian Project, and The Perry School Project are all target programs created with children in poverty in mind. In the literature, preschool, prekindergarten and pre-k appear to be used interchangeably as are the terms public, voluntary and universal pre-k. These …show more content…
The concept of universal preschool has been the focus of discussion since the mid 1960’s beginning with Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty campaign. At that time, target programs such as Head Start, were established to better prepare low income children for school by providing them with the needed skills required to be successful once entering kindergarten. Since then, the work force has changed, more mothers work full time, and the public’s attitudes toward child care and preschool have changed. Many people feel preschool is a necessary prerequisite for kindergarten rather than a luxury or alternative to child care (Gormley, 2005). Beyond target programs, the federal government has been slow to respond to the growing need for public preschool. As a result, state-funded preschool programs for students of all economic backgrounds, referred to as public preschool or Universal Pre-K (UPK) or Voluntary Pre-K (VPK), have blossomed in multiple states. Georgia was the first state to offer a public preschool program to all 4 year olds. Currently, nearly 60 percent of Georgia’s 4 year olds are enrolled. The demographics range from 37 percent white, 16 percent Hispanic, 39 percent African American and of those totals, 53 percent are low-income students (Rickman and …show more content…
Since the federal government has been slow to provide financial support, funding has primarily been generated through a complex mixture of state and local governments with only a smattering of federal assistance. Thus, advocates for standardizing pre-k nationwide find that national policies and finance mechanisms are muddled and difficult to organize. Methods of finance effective in one state may not be feasible in another. Policies may be politically motivated or may change with the political climate. Several examples reflect these variances. Georgia’s public preschool program is supported by state politicians and funded by the state lottery. From year to year, the political tide is subject to change as is revenues from the lottery. New York politicians and constituents support universal pre-k by voting for education reform bills that provide money for funding. Other states finagle with current state education funding through declining K-12 student populations in order to find funds for universal pre-k programs. In those states that have a trend of declining school enrollment, the gap is filled by enrolling preschool students. Rather than reducing the cost to reflect the decline in student population, the state has maintained the same level of spending but includes the preschoolers. Finally, other states had to resort to grassroots campaigning. Through public interest

Show More

Universal Preschool Legislation

Essay on preschool

Physical Environment In The Process Of Language Learning For Young Children

new comparative essay

Piaget brochur Essay

Tv Violence Essay

Baby Scholars Best Final Essay

The Importance Of Transition And Early Childhood Issue

Research paper

Health, Safety and Welfare in Ecce Setting Essay