Hey Kid, Can You Spare a Quarter? by J.M. Holland

Imagine four state governors standing together in a preschool classroom talking to a group of preschoolers, their parents, and their teachers about the difficulties they are having with their state budgets.

The first one, from, let's say, New Jersey, says, "In these tight economic times it is tough to know where to invest your states funds wisely. Pre-k has consistently shown a good return on investments. That's where I'm going to recommend we put our states money."  The governor continues with something like, "It's like this, kids: What if you had to pay for your education out of your own piggy bank? You would want to put as much money in that piggy bank as you could. Well, I think pre-k is such a good idea I am going to increase your allowance so that we can buy the best pre-k we can afford for as many kids as we can. You would share your money if you had enough right?"

"I'd share!" says Sam in a Spiderman shirt.

The second governor, from somewhere like Texas says, "You know, that's a good idea, but not reliable enough. That is why we have included pre-k in our state funding formula. That way it is safer. Sort of like putting your piggy bank in a safe deposit box. That way it is really hard to take away." The preschoolers giggle and the parents smile. They know that state funding is anything but secure these days and a safe deposit box for their children's education sounds like a good idea.

The governor from a state like Louisiana says, "Well I would love to put more money into pre-k, but I can barely provide health services to my poorest residents right now and we are still rebuilding from hurricanes. We just can't afford to put any more money in your piggy bank, kids, but I am not going to take your piggy bank. You keep it, and when we start to recover economically I may be able to give you an increase in your allowance." The kids frown but the parents and teachers understand. Sometimes you have to make hard decisions.

Finally, the last governor gets up. She is from North Carolina. She says, "It is really hard to balance the budget these days, kids. So, can I have a quarter?"

The kids pause. They have heard adults make jokes they don't understand before. A teacher laughs a nervous laugh. The parents' eye brows start to drop low over their eyes.

"Here, see," says the governor as she takes Jill's piggy bank. "You just turn it over and pull out the cork and then you can dump out some of the allowance you were going to get next year." Nobody can believe it, but it's happening. Several governors around the country are proposing cuts to pre-k funding. They include North Carolina, South Carolina, and New York. It is easy to see how, when a governor is willing to raid a preschooler's piggy bank, that governors like the one from Louisanna or New Jersey are actually exhibiting hero-like political will. While flat-funding pre-k was seen as a blow to early education in the past, flat-funding pre-k in today's economy is worth recognizing.

This kind of analysis is made clear by looking at Pre-K Now's new report, "Leadership Matters: Governors' Per-K Proposals Fiscal Year 2010." Where does your state's governor stand on pre-k? Is he increasing your child's allowance or taking a hammer to the piggy bank?

 

However, according to the report, there is good news.  Despite the severe budget challenges so many states are facing this year, the majority of governors--five to one!--have proposed to increase or protect pre-k funding.  In fact, governors from three states that currently have no pre-k program--North Dakota, Alaska, and Rhode Island--chose this fiscal year to introduce new pre-k initiatives for the first time.  These facts demonstrate a growing agreement among state leaders--from all around the country, and from both sides of the aisle--that investments in pre-k cannot be sacrificed, no matter the economic landscape.  Governors like Jon Corzine of New Jersey seem to understand that these tight economic times actually call for more dramatic increases in early education.  More children in more states having better opportunities makes the dark days of this economy a little less dark.  Families in every state deserve high quality early childhood services, and in the long term, the communities--as well as the economy--of the states that listen will see the benefits for years to come.

Strong leadership will make the difference between states, families and communities that weather this recession and reap the benefits of early education, and those that do not. Governors choosing to protect or grow these programs are providing relief to families struggling with the untenable costs of quality pre-k and investing in their states’ greatest asset, children. In doing so, they are cultivating essential human capital – the engine that ultimately will steer America’s foundering economy back onto solid ground.

  Pre-K Now's "Leadership Matters" report calls for governors to stand up for what is right and protect their youngest constituents' piggy banks, not just for economic reasons, but because it's the right thing to do.

Image from: http://saltyandsweet.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/brokenpiggybank.jpg