Post by Logan on Jun 20, 2016 22:47:47 GMT -6
INDIANAPOLIS — Two top Indiana Democrats on the ballot this November released a plan Thursday for developing a state-funded preschool program that would be available to all Indiana children regardless of family income.
Former House Speaker John Gregg, who is running for governor, and state schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz said their joint proposal would direct $150 million to a universal pre-K program that would be paid for with existing money. Funding for the program would come from reprioritizing some state spending and rededicating money budgeted for other programs that goes unspent.
Overhauling the state's much-maligned ISTEP test to make it cheaper while eliminating some other costly exams is another set of examples they offered.
Another major source could be federal dollars, they said.
Republican Gov. Mike Pence championed the state's existing "On My Way Pre-K" pilot program that was launched across five counties in 2015 and has since sent about 2,300 low-income children to preschool at an annual cost of about $10 million. But Pence surprised many in 2014 when he opted against seeking $80 million in federal funding, citing concerns about "federal intrusion."
Read more: www.nwitimes.com/news/statehouse/indiana/gregg-and-ritz-unveil-universal-pre-k-proposal/article_b7201d53-707f-5ad1-a41b-fa3759d2fa2b.html
Former House Speaker John Gregg, who is running for governor, and state schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz said their joint proposal would direct $150 million to a universal pre-K program that would be paid for with existing money. Funding for the program would come from reprioritizing some state spending and rededicating money budgeted for other programs that goes unspent.
Overhauling the state's much-maligned ISTEP test to make it cheaper while eliminating some other costly exams is another set of examples they offered.
Another major source could be federal dollars, they said.
Republican Gov. Mike Pence championed the state's existing "On My Way Pre-K" pilot program that was launched across five counties in 2015 and has since sent about 2,300 low-income children to preschool at an annual cost of about $10 million. But Pence surprised many in 2014 when he opted against seeking $80 million in federal funding, citing concerns about "federal intrusion."
Read more: www.nwitimes.com/news/statehouse/indiana/gregg-and-ritz-unveil-universal-pre-k-proposal/article_b7201d53-707f-5ad1-a41b-fa3759d2fa2b.html