All-Day Kindergarten Bill in Salem: Speak Up, Mamas!

Having just attended a kindergarten round-up several hours ago, this issue couldn't be more timely at our house!  Yes, our legislators plan to address the all-day kindergarten conundrum a bit further this month during the special legislative session - in the form of Senate Bill 1068.  They heard from several Superintendents in January to prepare, including PPS's Carole Smith.  Now it's your turn!! 

The issue at hand is whether to allow school districts to continue offering full-day, parent-paid kindergarten, rather than cutting back to half-day kindergarten programs, which is all the state funds.  This practice was recently determined to be illegal after some parents sued.  The bill would allow the current practice to continue through the 2009-10 school year, effective on passage.  We discussed the Oregonian's editorial on the issue in January and the larger issue more generally back in December.  And here we are again!!

Here's the gist from PPS, which is encouraging people to support the bill and communicate that support to Salem - before the hearing , 2.11.08:

What does SB 1068 do?? Senate Bill 1068 ensures that school districts across Oregon would continue their full-day, parent-paid kindergarten for two more years. This year, some 1,200 families have enrolled their children in parent-paid full-day kindergarten at 23 PPS elementary schools. (The legislation would not affect 35 PPS schools with full-day programs covered by federal anti-poverty dollars, at no cost to parents.) The bill also would ensure that students enrolled in tuition-based programs who also qualify for free or reduced meals would receive scholarships.

This legislation was introduced as a result of conflicting opinions as to whether or not Oregon law permits school districts to charge parents for full-day kindergarten programs, as PPS now does in 23 schools serving more than 1,200 kindergarteners. Another 35 schools offer full-day programs at no cost to parents using federal anti-poverty dollars.

PPS Supports the Bill: Superintendent Smith testified on behalf of the legislation in January.  Although it is a temporary solution (the ultimate solution would be state funding for full-day kindergarten), she urged legislators to support the bill to allow willing families access to full-day, tuition-based kindergarten.

Want to testify or comment Senate Bill 1068? The Senate Education and General Government Committee, chaired by Sen. Vicki Walker, will hold a hearing on SB 1068 on Monday, 2.11.08 @ 3:30 PM in Hearing Room A.  To testify, just show up in Hearing Room A of the State Capitol in Salem and sign up.  Never testified?  Check out the guidelines.

You may also let your state legislators know that you support the bill.  It's easy to locate the e-mail and phone number for your legislator - just be ready with your street address.

Need more info on PPS early childhood and kindergarten offerings?  Visit www.earlyed.pps.k12.or.us.

Comments

[jj]

email sent to Senator Kate Brown. thank you!

[LTF]

Today's Pdx Trib's editorial is all about this bill. It supports it, but states that it is just a stop-gap. It also goes on to say that they hope Salem don't forget to actually solve the problem between now and 2010 when this clever stop-gap sunsets. Hear Hear. http://www.portlandtribune.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=120336762516355200

[LTF]

The bill passed: http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/02/legislature_approves_tuition_f.html

Sure hope it is resolved in the '09 session.