EDUCATION COMMITTEE HEARS TESTIMONY ON KINDERGARTEN AID

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                          Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Contact: Senator Iris Estabrook

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EDUCATION COMMITTEE HEARS TESTIMONY ON KINDERGARTEN AID

CONCORD – Any delays in implementing public kindergarten will hurt the children who need it the most because it is the economically disadvantaged students who benefit most from kindergarten’s ability to level the academic playing field.

This was the testimony of representatives of the New Hampshire Children’s Alliance and Early Learning New Hampshire speaking before the Senate Education Committee today on a bill to provide financial assistance to school districts in New Hampshire that do not have public kindergarten.

Some of those school districts previously asked for more time, and the bill does include a one-year extension to provide an extra year for planning and setting up high quality programs by fall of 2009. Senator Michael Downing, representing Salem and Pelham, asked for a longer extension of 3 to 4 years but local advocates for children objected.

“We feel it’s time that every child in the state have the right to attend kindergarten,” said Jackie Cowell of Early Learning N.H. “The earlier we start, the better the future for New Hampshire.”

Only 11 school districts do not offer public kindergarten. Senate Bill 530, which was based on recommendations made by the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Costing an Adequate Education, was crafted to provide the financial assistance necessary to ensure public kindergarten is available to all students in the state starting in the fall of 2008, or in some cases, 2009. The legislation provides for full funding of temporary classrooms, furniture and fixtures along with an aid amount for each kindergarten pupil. Funds to pay for the temporary classrooms would be drawn from existing Kindergarten Construction Aid.

“It’s been more than100 years since the first kindergarten programs were made available to New Hampshire students. Research since then has firmly documented the benefits of early childhood education. It’s time to make kindergarten available to all our children,” said Senator Iris Estabrook, prime sponsor of Senate Bill 530 and co-chairwoman of the costing committee. “The committee felt we should not wait any longer than absolutely necessary.”

Ed Murdough of the state Department of Education, said research by his department shows that space, albeit limited, is available in all 11 districts to implement kindergarten though some districts would have to put up portable classrooms until permanent classrooms can be built.