I think the recent Reiner pre-school initiative failed for the following two reasons:

1. It was meant to provide free "universal" preschool for 70% of California kids (which isn't universal, it's 70%...up from 66% now, so less universal, let's call it "Galactic preschool")

2. I think most taxpayers realized that preschool, run through county school boards are preschools, with unionized instructors. What's next, Preschool PTA's?

I think California voters chose wisely (weren't these the same voters that overcame that nasty governor power grab? Sounds like a LOT of the same people that didn't like the guv's reforms didn't like Galactic Preschool either, but I digress)...

So what lesson did we learn?

HEY - WE NEED GALACTIC PRESCHOOL FOR 70% OF KIDS, and UNIONIZED INSTRUCTORS...

Don't believe me? Read the story below...

Do you think we need tax payer funded galactic preschool?

Did you vote for it?

Do you think Weis is on a fool's errand?

What happens to those "other" 30%? Do they go to black hole preschool?

I personally love the "no standardized tests" shot - Why do these folks hate Gray Davis so?

I'd welcome your comments on galactic preschool, and why the county schools office is hell-bent to make it happen - regardless of whether it meets their charter or not.

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URL: http://www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/news/article/0,1375,VCS_121_4858154,00.html
Universal preschool may occur locally
By Jean Cowden Moore, jcmoore@VenturaCountyStar.com
July 20, 2006

California voters may have turned down free preschool for all 4-year-olds earlier this year, but proponents are trying to keep the idea alive locally.

The key to offering universal preschool in this area will be funding, said Charles Weis, Ventura County superintendent of schools.

The latest state budget provides $100 million in additional preschool funding, which certainly will help, Weis said. But, if California is going to close its achievement gap, the state must invest in preschool for all children, regardless of their income level, he said.

"If the state doesn't figure this out, we in Ventura County need to figure out how to make it happen," Weis said.

Weis was one of five panelists who spoke Wednesday evening at a forum sponsored by KCLU. The forum will be broadcast on KCLU Tuesday at 2 p.m.

The other speakers were Carrie Murphy, Preschool For All coordinator for First Five of Ventura; Jennie Martinez, child development coordinator with the Santa Barbara School Districts; Michelle Robertson, preschool specialist with First Five of Santa Barbara County; and Rachel Champagne, program director for Child Development, Inc.

First Five uses funds from a tobacco tax to provide services, including preschool, for children up to 5 years old statewide.

All five panelists spoke of the need for universal preschool, saying it gives children the emotional, social and academic skills they need to succeed in kindergarten. In other words, children who go to preschool "know how to learn," the panelists said.

"The intent of preschool is to level the playing field," said Robertson, with First Five of Santa Barbara County. "If we don't level the playing field, the achievement gap gets wider and wider. After fourth grade, it's hard to catch up with your peers."

But if preschools are going to breach that gap, they need to offer high-quality programs, the panelists said. That's what differentiates preschool from child-care, they said.

"Quality is what matters with preschool," said Champagne, with Child Development, Inc., which receives state and private funding for its programs. "You need quality programming to see the effects."

One person in the audience asked about accountability — how preschools can show that they are providing a high-quality education.

They won't do it by giving children standardized tests, panelists said. Instead, teachers will produce reports on each child's progress, based on their observations.

Locally, two local pilot programs have gotten a start on offering universal preschool.

One of those programs is in the Hueneme Elementary District, where nearly three-fourth of students come from low-income families. That program hopes to provide free preschool to 70 percent of 4-year-olds within the next five years.

Santa Barbara also has a program that provides free preschool for all children living within the boundaries of one of its elementary schools.

Wednesday's forum was the third in a series that KCLU is sponsoring. The next forum, which will be on immigration, is set for Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. That forum will be at CLU's Oxnard graduate center, in the Palms Shopping Center, 2000 Outlet Center Drive, Suite 150.