Push for prekindergarten gains steam

A panel of state lawmakers on Wednesday recommended Indiana expand publicly funded prekindergarten, an investment that a new study says would provide a $4 return for every dollar the state infuses into the program.

The Republican-led panel didn’t say precisely how broad the expansion should be but appeared to want to keep the focus on low-income children.

There is little doubt that the next governor and legislature will push in 2017 for an expansion of the state’s current $10 million-per-year pilot program. Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb, the Republican candidate for governor, and John Gregg, the Democratic candidate, have included a prekindergarten expansion in their education plans. But the two men are promoting vastly different approaches.

The recommendation by the Interim Study Committee on Fiscal Policy comes as a new study by Indiana University exploring the effects of supporting pre-K projected a $3.80 to $4 benefit for every dollar invested. Researchers came to the conclusion by reviewing potential savings to special education programs and the criminal justice system, as well as higher wages expected for the program’s participants.

“Unlocking access to high-quality pre-K is one of the most important ways we can impact the life trajectories of children born into poverty, and their success has considerable implications on our state’s economic outlook,” Michael Huber, president of the Indy Chamber, said in a statement on the study. “The business community is encouraged by new research demonstrating a four-to-one return on investment in pre-K.”

A Republican fiscal leader told IndyStar that talks will focus on expanding opportunities for low-income children. But a specific funding increase hasn’t been determined, said Rep. Tim Brown, chairman of the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee.

“What we want to do is close the educational gap between at-risk kids, and this is one step,” Brown said. “It may not be a complete package, but it is one small step to close that educational gap.”

His statement appears to align with the approach Holcomb says he would take to expand the state’s pilot program, which served about 1,500 children in Marion, Vanderburgh and three other Indiana counties this past school year. Echoing a statewide coalition of early childhood education advocates, Holcomb has said the state should remain focused on helping more low-income children gain access to pre-K programs.

But it also signals the potential for a showdown if Gregg is elected governor. Gregg has pushed for a much broader, “universal” expansion of pre-K that would provide aid to children regardless of income level.

Rep. Greg Porter, the House Democratic fiscal leader, said he wants any expansion to include “all children” and said the state “can’t skip over children.”

The distinction between the two candidates was evident in Monday’s gubernatorial debate, with Gregg arguing “now is the time” to invest in a “universal” approach, a $150 million-per-year program he says can be funded without raising taxes.

Holcomb said that although he supports an expansion, the state should continue to tailor its program to low-income children. He said “keeping in consideration cost and capacity” would be key when lawmakers begin negotiations on a new, two-year state budget.

Indiana coalition pushing for expanded pre-K funding

The United Way of Central Indiana, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and other groups launched a lobbying effort in August to persuade lawmakers to increase the $10 million in annual funding the state now provides for the state’s pilot program. So far, coalition leaders have stopped short of saying the level of funding they want directed to the program. But they do want lawmakers to add to the number of counties the program serves and raise the income eligibility cap, from 127 percent of the federal poverty level (about $30,000 per year for a family of four) to 185 percent (about $44,900 per year).

Supporters of publicly funded pre-K say additional dollars are necessary because many children who would qualify are now locked out because of the limited funds. As for the extent that funding should increase, the coalition wants lawmakers to guide the discussion.

“At this point, we are really leaving it up to the legislators to decide what dollar amount the additional funding will be,” said Connie Bond Stuart, chair of the United Way of Central Indiana’s board. “We want to make sure that more of these children have access to a high-quality early childhood education … that’s our message to the legislators.”

Another of the coalition’s goals, removing the statutory requirement that philanthropic dollars be raised to support the efforts, seems more unlikely. The panel recommended Wednesday keeping the requirement.

Gregg and Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz, also a Democrat, have proposed to pay for their broader proposal by applying for federal grants and redirecting funding from the state’s controversial private school voucher program.

“We think we can get it done,” said Jeff Harris, a spokesman for Gregg. “We’ll need to turn some hearts and minds, certainly, but we have the data and the backing to do it. It’s an extremely popular item around the state.”

Lawmakers will return to the Statehouse in January to kick off the new legislative session.

Call IndyStar reporter Chelsea Schneider at (317) 444-6077. Follow her on Twitter: @IndyStarChelsea.

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