Mayor Ballard’s preschool plan shows real promise for Indy’s kids
World-class cities are built on the promise of access to a world-class education. Though many improvements are being made to our K-12 schools, those advances will be built upon a fragile foundation without ensuring that all children have access to a high-quality early childhood education.
Thankfully, we have largely moved beyond the debate over whether early childhood education is a good investment. We all know the benefits of a good preschool program. Kids do better academically. Kids do better socially. They are simply better prepared for school and life success.
At Day Nursery, we see the generational impacts of high-quality preschool. We have parents in our program who themselves attended Day Nursery over 20 years ago. They brought their children back, because they remembered the program so vividly: the caring teachers, dramatic play, songs and the confidence the program gave them. They are smart, educated, working and engaged in their child’s education. They are investing in Indianapolis.
Day Nursery, like many other high-quality preschool providers in Indianapolis, strives to be accessible to every child and family. We have great school facilities, highly trained teachers and a curriculum focused on experiential learning. Over 90 percent of the children who leave our preschool classrooms are on track for kindergarten. Hundreds of preschool children benefit from Day Nursery every year. But we could do more.
Unfortunately, despite the help of child care vouchers and our own donor-funded scholarship program, we are still inaccessible to many families. And we are not alone. The fact remains, many children will not come to preschool without help.
Fortunately, momentum is building for expanded preschool in Indianapolis. Gov. Mike Pence announced that Marion County will take part in the state’s first pre-K pilot. IPS has doubled the number of pre-K students it serves. Day Nursery is partnering with Phalen Leadership Academy, Vision Academy @ Riverside and Teach for America to offer pre-K in these charter schools. This week, though, we are getting the best news yet.
Mayor Greg Ballard’s proposal to invest $25 million over five years in order to make preschool more affordable and accessible to Indianapolis children is a game-changer. The mayor’s team has put together a smart plan. I believe this effort will be effective for many reasons. Here are five:
• We are no longer talking about a pilot program helping a handful of children. If this advances, thousands of children will attend high-quality preschool.
• The mayor’s office is smart to partner with community organizations that are experts at investing in kids. United Way and Child Care Answers, the outreach program of Day Nursery, have worked together for years to improve early childhood education in Indianapolis.
• This program is targeted at low-income children. Study after study has shown preschool has the greatest impact on families of modest means.
• This initiative is focused on quality. There is no shortage of preschool options out there, but they are not all good. Preschool only works if it is high-quality.
• Finally, the initiative engages parents. Parents will be able choose from a variety programs that best fit the needs of their children and families. Parental choice sets the stage for family involvement. Great preschool teachers will work with parents every day to help children learn. We know this can make all the difference.
We want safe streets, successful students and a stable and educated workforce. We want a world-class city. Preschool is one critical way to help us achieve these goals. As a citizen of Indianapolis and longtime early childhood advocate, I am thrilled to see this watershed commitment to our youngest children and their families and excited for our future.
Maple is president and CEO of the Day Nursery Association.