NEWS

Pilot pre-K program signed into law by Gov. Mike Pence

Barb Berggoetz
barb.berggoetz@indystar.com

Laura Dyke doesn’t have to think twice about why the state’s first-ever funding of pre-kindergarten education — approved Thursday by Gov. Mike Pence — is a good idea.

“The children who really need early childhood education are the ones who have trouble finding it because they can’t afford it,” said Dyke, co-director of DayStar Childcare on the Eastside. And if families do find funding, she said, often no space is left because families with means to pay apply ahead of time.

The pre-kindergarten legislation, among 222 bills Pence has signed into law, will create a five-county pilot pre-K program serving 1,000 to 4,000 low-income 4-year-olds. The number served depends on the cost of private and public pre-K programs approved for the pilot.

Prior to this legislation, Indiana was the only Midwest state and one of nine states in the nation not providing state funds for pre-kindergarten.

“I’m very moved and very grateful to have the opportunity to move forward with pre-K education,” said Pence at the DayStar Childcare, a ministry of Englewood Christian Church. “I believe every Indiana child deserves to start kindergarten ready to learn and to begin a lifetime of learning.”

Pence had originally sought a statewide pre-K program serving low-income children. But he even had to wrangle this smaller initiative — among his top priorities — through the Senate, which refused to allocate new funds.

Under a bi-partisan compromise, though, $10 million will come from unspent funds from the state Family and Social Services Administration’s budget this year and/or federal Child Care Development Funds. At least an additional 10 percent, up to 50 percent, must come from private donations. At the most, $15 million will be spent during the first year.

Although the pilots were originally expected to start in 2015, Rep. Robert Behning, R-Indianapolis, the bill’s author, said he doesn’t think there’s any question they will start this fall.

“Especially in a non-budget year to get this moved forward, I think it’s an unbelievable accomplishment,” he said.

Counties to be chosen by the Family and Social Service Administration, said Behning, will be in rural, urban and suburban areas with the greatest needs. Pre-schools in those areas can then apply to receive funds, ranging from $2,500 to $6,800 per child. To qualify, a child’s family can earn no more than 127 percent of the federal poverty limit — $28,380 for a family of four.

The legislation also calls for a study committee to look into expanding pre-school education and for a $1 million long-term study, following the children enrolled through third grade.

Supporters recognized the program is a small start and better funding needs to be figured out.

“It’s a short-term fix or a long-term problem,” said Behning. “So we’re going to have to look at long-term funding solutions.”

Pence said, though, he thought it was important to start this program now and then study the effectiveness before expanding it further.

If Marion County is chosen, DayStar director Dyke said her facility will be ready to accept new children, as it is expanding its capacity this fall to 190 from 107 children.

“This would allow us to be able to save spaces for those who need it the most,” she said.

Call Star reporter Barb Berggoetz at (317) 444-6294. Follow her on Twitter @barbberg.