JLARC looks at Pre-K

Governor Tim Kaine has proposed an expansion of the Pre-K initiative. Due to the expected budget shortfall of $641 million, concerns have been raised regarding costs of doing so. On Tuesday, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) released a draft (pdf) of their report on the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI). Apparently, a number of reporters looked only at the briefing (pdf) and not the draft report itself, which runs some 224 pages, since the focus of most of what I have read has been on the additional costs and the fact that there are currently seats not being used. While both of these are true, what seems to be missing from the news reports is the success of the existing VPI.

From the report:

JLARC staff found that VPI classrooms appear to provide a positive academic and social experience for children. VPI students do well in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten literacy tests. Kindergarten teachers report that the preschool programs for at-risk students in their schools are preparing children very well for kindergarten. A tracking system has recently been developed which should facilitate assessments in the future of longer-term outcomes for VPI graduates.

Virginia’s focus of effort upon at-risk children appears appropriate.

The issue of costs relates to the slots not currently being used. The report (p23) notes that Norfolk uses 1,487 slots. The localities that don’t participate in the program cite space concerns as well as the lack of available matching funds. The state formula of $5,700 per pupil is simply not sufficient in areas where the costs to educate are much higher (p20).

What is clear to me from reading the report is that there are benefits to pre-K programs and the state just has to figure out how to pay for it. Chapter 10 of the report offers some possibilities, including parent fees.

I think we should look at all alternatives and try to figure out how to get this done.