A bill was passed in the Senate Thursday, which would provide $8 million for voluntary preschool programs throughout Mississippi if passed in the House.
The state of Mississippi could receive $8 million in funding for pre-K programs from the State Department of Education with a bill that was passed Thursday in the Senate, but the bill has yet to be passed by the House.
The bill was drafted by State Sen. Brice Wiggins, R-Pascagoula, and Senate Education Committee Chairman Gray Tollison, R-Oxford. If approved by the House, pre-K programs in the state will be voluntary and state-funded as soon as next year.
“We know that when kids come to kindergarten (without pre-K) with tremendous gaps in their learning and foundational skills, they’re already behind their peers,” said Angela Rutherford, director of the Willie Price Lab School at The University of Mississippi and associate professor in the department of teacher education.
Associate professor of political science John Bruce said early investment in a child’s education will result in a better-equipped student and eventually a better workforce.
“I think preschool makes a world of difference,” Bruce said.
“There’s a lot of evidence out there that the earlier you start working with kids, whether you’re a parent or a teacher, there are real rewards in terms of the education process.”
The new bill calls for the department to oversee the funding program, which would be offered on a three-to-five year phased-in basis.
The first phase would involve the distribution of $8 million among five to eight early learning collaborative councils, serving 3,500 children. The bill said funding would first be offered to under-performing school districts.
During the second phase, funding would increase to no less than $15 million and serve up to 7,000 children.
The third phase would offer no less than $32 million in funding and serve approximately 15,000 children. Any further phases would depend on the success of previous ones.
If approved, early collaborative childhood councils can apply for funding for the 2013-14 school year.
“I feel like the school system would grow stronger (with preschool funding) because it builds a solid foundation with children at a young age,” public policy junior Gregory Alston said.
“If the children start going to school earlier, there’s no telling what the future would hold for the state.”
