Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>>> HELLO, I'M JOE HREN AND WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."
WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK." INDIANA IS ONE OF 10 STATES THAT
INDIANA IS ONE OF 10 STATES THAT DOESN'T PROVIDE ANY STATE
DOESN'T PROVIDE ANY STATE DOLLARS FOR PRESCHOOL, BUT
DOLLARS FOR PRESCHOOL, BUT THAT'S ABOUT TO CHANGE.
THAT'S ABOUT TO CHANGE. STATE LAWMAKERS AGREED LAST YEAR
STATE LAWMAKERS AGREED LAST YEAR TO FULLY FUND KINDERGARTEN.
TO FULLY FUND KINDERGARTEN. NOW AS SARAH WHIT MYE SARA WHITA
NOW AS SARAH WHIT MYE SARA WHITA PILOT COULD BEGIN AS EARLY AS
PILOT COULD BEGIN AS EARLY AS THE FALL.
THE FALL. >> WALK THROUGH THESE HALLS AND
>> WALK THROUGH THESE HALLS AND YOU WILL NOTICE SOMETHING
YOU WILL NOTICE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
DIFFERENT. >> EVERYONE HAS A STAKE IN EACH
>> EVERYONE HAS A STAKE IN EACH CHILD'S EDUCATION.
CHILD'S EDUCATION. >> TEACHERS HERE ARE CHARGED
>> TEACHERS HERE ARE CHARGED WITH PREPARING EACH OF THE
WITH PREPARING EACH OF THE SCHOOLS 1154-YEAR-OLDS FOR
SCHOOLS 1154-YEAR-OLDS FOR KINDERGARTEN.
KINDERGARTEN. >> 90% OF THE CHILD'S BRAIN IS
>> 90% OF THE CHILD'S BRAIN IS DEVELOPED BY THE TIME THEY TURN
DEVELOPED BY THE TIME THEY TURN 5.
5. >> WELL, WE KNOW WE HAVE A LARGE
>> WELL, WE KNOW WE HAVE A LARGE GROUP OF CHILDREN WHO ENTER THE
GROUP OF CHILDREN WHO ENTER THE KINDERGARTEN DOORS AND THEY ARE
KINDERGARTEN DOORS AND THEY ARE A YEAR OR TWO YEARS BEHIND IN
A YEAR OR TWO YEARS BEHIND IN THEIR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
THEIR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT. >> THAT'S MICHAEL CONPOWERS, THE
>> THAT'S MICHAEL CONPOWERS, THE DIRECTOR AT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD
DIRECTOR AT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER AT THE INDIANA INSTITUTE
CENTER AT THE INDIANA INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY AND COMMUNITY AT
ON DISABILITY AND COMMUNITY AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY.
INDIANA UNIVERSITY. HE'S WRITTEN NUMEROUS POLICY
HE'S WRITTEN NUMEROUS POLICY BRIEFS ABOUT PRE-K EDUCATION.
BRIEFS ABOUT PRE-K EDUCATION. >> AND EVEN WITH THE BEST
>> AND EVEN WITH THE BEST KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS, IT'S HARD
KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS, IT'S HARD TO CATCH UP.
TO CATCH UP. KINDERGARTENS HAVE CHANGED SO
KINDERGARTENS HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH NOW BECAUSE THEY HAVE
MUCH NOW BECAUSE THEY HAVE STRONSTRONG EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMET
STRONSTRONG EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMET THEY NEED.
THEY NEED. THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME AND THE
THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME AND THE LUXURY TO SLOWLY EASE ALL
LUXURY TO SLOWLY EASE ALL CHILDREN INTO FORMAL SCHOOLING.
CHILDREN INTO FORMAL SCHOOLING. AND SO ONCE BEHIND, THEN THE
AND SO ONCE BEHIND, THEN THE LIKELIHOOD IS TO ALWAYS BE
LIKELIHOOD IS TO ALWAYS BE BEHIND.
BEHIND. >> ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT
>> ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT CENSUS, ONLY ABOUT 40% OF
CENSUS, ONLY ABOUT 40% OF HOOSIER 3 AND 4-YEAR-OLDS GET
HOOSIER 3 AND 4-YEAR-OLDS GET ANY PRESCHOOL AND EVEN FEWER
ANY PRESCHOOL AND EVEN FEWER ATTEND HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS.
ATTEND HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS. GOVERNOR MIKE PENCE MADE FINDING
GOVERNOR MIKE PENCE MADE FINDING MONEY FOR PRE-K HIS NUMBER ONE
MONEY FOR PRE-K HIS NUMBER ONE EDUCATION PRIORITY THIS SESSION.
EDUCATION PRIORITY THIS SESSION. >> I BELIEVE WE CAN START IN THE
>> I BELIEVE WE CAN START IN THE AREA OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
AREA OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT.
DEVELOPMENT. >> HIS PROPOSAL SEEMED DOOMED TO
>> HIS PROPOSAL SEEMED DOOMED TO FAIL.
FAIL. BUT IN THE WANING DAYS OF THE
BUT IN THE WANING DAYS OF THE SESSION, LAWMAKERS REVIVED IT,
SESSION, LAWMAKERS REVIVED IT, PUTTING THE OWN US O ONUS ON THR
PUTTING THE OWN US O ONUS ON THR TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO PAY
TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT, A DIFFICULT PROPOSITION
FOR IT, A DIFFICULT PROPOSITION GIVE ENTHAT STATGIVEN THAT STATE
GIVE ENTHAT STATGIVEN THAT STATE DOWN.
DOWN. HE ANNOUNCED FUNDING CUTS TO
HE ANNOUNCED FUNDING CUTS TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND SOLD THE
HIGHER EDUCATION AND SOLD THE STATE PLANE.
STATE PLANE. >> WE ARE MANAGING THE STATE'S
>> WE ARE MANAGING THE STATE'S RESOURCES IN A PRUDENT WAY, AND
RESOURCES IN A PRUDENT WAY, AND IN A MANNER THAT'S GOING TO
IN A MANNER THAT'S GOING TO PRESERVE OUR BUDGET SURPLUS AS
PRESERVE OUR BUDGET SURPLUS AS WELL AS OUR BUDGET RESERVES AND
WELL AS OUR BUDGET RESERVES AND MEET THE OBLIGATIONS OF OUR
MEET THE OBLIGATIONS OF OUR PROGRAMS AROUND THE STAY.
PROGRAMS AROUND THE STAY. >> PENCE SAYS HE'S ALREADY
>> PENCE SAYS HE'S ALREADY IDENTIFIED THOSE POOLS OF MONEY
IDENTIFIED THOSE POOLS OF MONEY THAT ADD UP TO $10 MILLION
THAT ADD UP TO $10 MILLION WITHIN THE FAMILY AND SOCIAL
WITHIN THE FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, BUT HE
SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, BUT HE HASN'T RELEASED THE SPECIFIC
HASN'T RELEASED THE SPECIFIC AREAS TO THE PUBLIC.
AREAS TO THE PUBLIC. HE SAYS THE CUTS WON'T MEAN ANY
HE SAYS THE CUTS WON'T MEAN ANY REDUCTION IN SERVICES.
REDUCTION IN SERVICES. AND AT LEAST 10% OF THE MONEY
AND AT LEAST 10% OF THE MONEY FOR THE PILOT IS SUPPOSED TO
FOR THE PILOT IS SUPPOSED TO COME FROM PRIVATE DONATIONS OR
COME FROM PRIVATE DONATIONS OR FEDERAL DOLLARS.
FEDERAL DOLLARS. THAT COULD ADD UP TO $5 MILLION.
THAT COULD ADD UP TO $5 MILLION. ELECTRIC THERE'S NO CAP ON THE
ELECTRIC THERE'S NO CAP ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO CAN BE IN
NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO CAN BE IN THE PRE-K PILOT.
THE PRE-K PILOT. IT'S LIMITED ONLY BY THE AMOUNT
IT'S LIMITED ONLY BY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AVAILABLE.
OF MONEY AVAILABLE. >> YES, IT WOULD BE NICE THAT
>> YES, IT WOULD BE NICE THAT MORE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COULD
MORE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COULD BENEFIT.
BENEFIT. BEGGARS CONDITION BE CHOOSEY.
BEGGARS CONDITION BE CHOOSEY. WE NEED TO START SOMEWHERE.
WE NEED TO START SOMEWHERE. AND WAITING FOR EVERYBODY TO BE
AND WAITING FOR EVERYBODY TO BE SERVED THAT COULD TAKE A LONG
SERVED THAT COULD TAKE A LONG TIME.
TIME. >> HERE ARE THE DETAILS.
>> HERE ARE THE DETAILS. THE FSSA WILL SELECT FIVE
THE FSSA WILL SELECT FIVE COUNTIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
COUNTIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
PROGRAM. THE FSSA WILL OVERSEE THE
THE FSSA WILL OVERSEE THE PROGRAM.
PROGRAM. ELIGIBLE FAMILIES MUST MAYBE
ELIGIBLE FAMILIES MUST MAYBE 127% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY
127% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL OR ABOUT $30,000 FOR A
LEVEL OR ABOUT $30,000 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.
FAMILY OF FOUR. GRANTS AWARDED WILL RANGE FROM
GRANTS AWARDED WILL RANGE FROM $2,500 TO $6,800.
$2,500 TO $6,800. >> CHOOSING CHILD CARE IS ONE OF
>> CHOOSING CHILD CARE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS
THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS FAMILIES WILL MAKE.
FAMILIES WILL MAKE. >> KIDS CAN GO TO TOP-RATED
>> KIDS CAN GO TO TOP-RATED CHILD CARE CENTERS ON THE
CHILD CARE CENTERS ON THE STATE'S QUALITY SCALE, THAT IS
STATE'S QUALITY SCALE, THAT IS LEVELS THREE AND FOUR BUT PRE-K
LEVELS THREE AND FOUR BUT PRE-K RESEARCHERS ARE SKEPTICAL THAT
RESEARCHERS ARE SKEPTICAL THAT SOME WILL BE HIGH QUALITY ENOUGH
SOME WILL BE HIGH QUALITY ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE VERY
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE VERY LOW INCOME CHILDREN THAT THE
LOW INCOME CHILDREN THAT THE PILOT TARGETS.
PILOT TARGETS. A STUDY KHAN POWERS CONDUCTED
A STUDY KHAN POWERS CONDUCTED FOUND SOME LEVEL THREE PROGRAMS
FOUND SOME LEVEL THREE PROGRAMS ARE NOT PARTICULARLY STRONG.
ARE NOT PARTICULARLY STRONG. >> THEY WEREN'T ANY BETTER THAN
>> THEY WEREN'T ANY BETTER THAN FOLKS THAT WERE NOT
FOLKS THAT WERE NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE PATH TO
PARTICIPATING IN THE PATH TO QUALITY.
QUALITY. RESEARCH ACROSS THE COUNTRY
RESEARCH ACROSS THE COUNTRY FINDS THAT QUALITY RATING
FINDS THAT QUALITY RATING SYSTEMS AREN'T ALWAYS ALIGNED
SYSTEMS AREN'T ALWAYS ALIGNED WITH EDUCATION QUALITY.
WITH EDUCATION QUALITY. >> THE PILOT ALSO INCLUDES UP TO
>> THE PILOT ALSO INCLUDES UP TO $1 MILLION FOR A STUDY THAT WILL
$1 MILLION FOR A STUDY THAT WILL FOLLOW THE KIDS IN THE PROGRAM
FOLLOW THE KIDS IN THE PROGRAM THROUGH THE THIRD GRADE.
THROUGH THE THIRD GRADE. PENCE SAYS THE STUDY WILL GIVE
PENCE SAYS THE STUDY WILL GIVE LAWMAKERS DATA ON THE IMPACT THE
LAWMAKERS DATA ON THE IMPACT THE PILOT HAD THAT THEY CAN THEN USE
PILOT HAD THAT THEY CAN THEN USE TO DETERMINE HOW TO BEST EXPAND
TO DETERMINE HOW TO BEST EXPAND PRE-K.
PRE-K. >> IT'S THE INDIANA WAY, AS WE
>> IT'S THE INDIANA WAY, AS WE GET STARTED.
GET STARTED. WE -- WE PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR
WE -- WE PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR HEARTS ARE, AND THEN WE
HEARTS ARE, AND THEN WE DELIBERATE, WE CONSIDER, AND
DELIBERATE, WE CONSIDER, AND WE'RE CAREFUL.
WE'RE CAREFUL. >> JENNIFER MYER JOYS US NOW FOR
>> JENNIFER MYER JOYS US NOW FOR MORE ON -- JOINS US NOW FOR MORE
MORE ON -- JOINS US NOW FOR MORE ON THESE PRE-K PROGRAM.
ON THESE PRE-K PROGRAM. I WANT TO START WITH THE MAP
I WANT TO START WITH THE MAP THAT OUR TEAM HAS COME UP WITH.
THAT OUR TEAM HAS COME UP WITH. IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE BUT WE
IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE BUT WE WANTED TO SHOW IT NOW.
WANTED TO SHOW IT NOW. THERE ARE NINE COUNTIES THAT
THERE ARE NINE COUNTIES THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ANY LEVEL
DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ANY LEVEL THREE OR FOUR RATED PRE-K
THREE OR FOUR RATED PRE-K PROGRAMS.
PROGRAMS. NOW, THEY ARE IN WHITE.
NOW, THEY ARE IN WHITE. THEY ARE ON THE SCREEN.
THEY ARE ON THE SCREEN. ONLY ABOUT 20 COUNTIES HAVE MORE
ONLY ABOUT 20 COUNTIES HAVE MORE THAN 10 LEVEL THREE AND FOUR
THAN 10 LEVEL THREE AND FOUR PROVIDERS.
PROVIDERS. SO WHEN THE FSSA SELECTS THE
SO WHEN THE FSSA SELECTS THE PARTICIPATING COUNTIES, HOW DO
PARTICIPATING COUNTIES, HOW DO YOU KEEP IT FROM FOCUSING ON THE
YOU KEEP IT FROM FOCUSING ON THE URBAN AREAS?
URBAN AREAS? >> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW 59 FIRS AT FIRST IS
I DON'T KNOW 59 FIRS AT FIRST IS GOING TO BE POSSIBLE, JUST AS WE
GOING TO BE POSSIBLE, JUST AS WE FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON THOSE
FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON THOSE CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT HAVE
CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT HAVE PASSED THE QUALITY LEVEL THREE
PASSED THE QUALITY LEVEL THREE AND FOUR, AND WHEN WE LOOK AT
AND FOUR, AND WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME PLACE LOOK BLOOMINGTON, WE
SOME PLACE LOOK BLOOMINGTON, WE HAVE SEVEN THAT ARE LEVEL FOUR
HAVE SEVEN THAT ARE LEVEL FOUR AND 12 THAT ARE LEVEL THREE AND
AND 12 THAT ARE LEVEL THREE AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NEED FOR THE
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NEED FOR THE NUMBER OF SEATS FOR EARLY CHILD
NUMBER OF SEATS FOR EARLY CHILD CARE, YOU KNOW, KIDS THAT ARE
CARE, YOU KNOW, KIDS THAT ARE GOING INTO THE SYSTEM THAT ARE
GOING INTO THE SYSTEM THAT ARE AGE 4, WE KNOW THAT AS OUR
AGE 4, WE KNOW THAT AS OUR COUNTY, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
COUNTY, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SEATS FOR THOSE KIDS, WHICH IS
SEATS FOR THOSE KIDS, WHICH IS PROBLEMATIC FOR, YOU KNOW,
PROBLEMATIC FOR, YOU KNOW, SMALLER TOWNS.
SMALLER TOWNS. AND CERTAINLY SMALLER COUNTIES.
AND CERTAINLY SMALLER COUNTIES. >> NOW, GIVEN THE LIMITED
>> NOW, GIVEN THE LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF THE HIGH QUALITY
AVAILABILITY OF THE HIGH QUALITY PRE-K PROGRAMS, IS THERE A
PRE-K PROGRAMS, IS THERE A BALANCE BETWEEN ACCESSIBILITY
BALANCE BETWEEN ACCESSIBILITY AND HIGH QUALITY?
AND HIGH QUALITY? >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. YES.
YES. >> AND WHAT IS THAT?
>> AND WHAT IS THAT? >> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE DOLLARS DRIVE THAT, AND, YOU
DOLLARS DRIVE THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE LIVING IN A MODERN
KNOW, WE ARE LIVING IN A MODERN SOCIETY WHERE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE
SOCIETY WHERE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE DOLLARS THAT ARE ABLE TO
THE DOLLARS THAT ARE ABLE TO FUND THAT PRE-K AND TUITION
FUND THAT PRE-K AND TUITION BASED PROGRAM, WE KNOW 9 KIDS
BASED PROGRAM, WE KNOW 9 KIDS WHO NEED IT THE MOST ARE NOT
WHO NEED IT THE MOST ARE NOT GETTING IT AND THAT'S THE SAD
GETTING IT AND THAT'S THE SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS THAT WE ARE IN.
STATE OF AFFAIRS THAT WE ARE IN. WE ARE LUCKY, LIVING IN MONROE
WE ARE LUCKY, LIVING IN MONROE COUNTY WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT
COUNTY WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO PICK UP THOSE
ARE TRYING TO PICK UP THOSE PIECES AND TO TRY TO FILL THOSE
PIECES AND TO TRY TO FILL THOSE GAPS.
GAPS. LIKE THE UNITED WAY OF MONROE
LIKE THE UNITED WAY OF MONROE COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY
COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF BLOOMINGTON AND
FOUNDATION OF BLOOMINGTON AND MONROE COUNTY SO WE ARE STARTING
MONROE COUNTY SO WE ARE STARTING TO FUND THOSE SLOTS AND WORKING
TO FUND THOSE SLOTS AND WORKING WITH OUR AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
WITH OUR AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HELPING TO GAIN MORE SLOTS FOR
HELPING TO GAIN MORE SLOTS FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE LOW TO MODERATE
CHILDREN WHO ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH TITLE 1
INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH TITLE 1 FUNDS.
FUNDS. >> NOW PART OF THE LEGISLATION
>> NOW PART OF THE LEGISLATION MANDATES PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.
MANDATES PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT. HOW WOULD YOU ENVISION THAT IN
HOW WOULD YOU ENVISION THAT IN THIS PROGRAM?
THIS PROGRAM? >> WELL, PRINCIPAL INVOLVEMENT
>> WELL, PRINCIPAL INVOLVEMENT IS KEY.
IS KEY. I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT -- THAT A
I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT -- THAT A CHILD'S BRAIN IS FULLY
CHILD'S BRAIN IS FULLY DEVELOPED.
DEVELOPED. 85% OF THAT BRAIN IS FULLY
85% OF THAT BRAIN IS FULLY DEVELOPED BY AGE 5 AND SO WE
DEVELOPED BY AGE 5 AND SO WE KNOW THAT PARENTS ARE A CHILD'S
KNOW THAT PARENTS ARE A CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER.
FIRST TEACHER. AND WE KNOW THAT THE HOME IS
AND WE KNOW THAT THE HOME IS INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT, AND AS FAR
INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT, AND AS FAR AS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS,
AS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS, THEY ARE NOT ONLY TEACHING THE
THEY ARE NOT ONLY TEACHING THE KIDS THAT ARE WITHIN THOSE WALLS
KIDS THAT ARE WITHIN THOSE WALLS OF THEIR CLASSROOM, BUT THEY ARE
OF THEIR CLASSROOM, BUT THEY ARE ALSO TEACHING THE PARENTS HOW TO
ALSO TEACHING THE PARENTS HOW TO BE INVOLVED WITH THEIR KIDS AND
BE INVOLVED WITH THEIR KIDS AND HOW TO HAVE A GREAT IMPACT WITH
HOW TO HAVE A GREAT IMPACT WITH THEIR CHILD.
THEIR CHILD. >> VERY INTERESTING.
>> VERY INTERESTING. THANK