Recently I heard Checker Finn compare
the national pre-k system to the higher education structure in a panel
discussion on universal preschool. His comment brought something new to
the table — kids! It was great to see them at the forefront of the
discussion (rather than Finn's usual ideology).
It's
an interesting concept that really made me think twice about how I
understand the phrase "universal pre-k." Higher eduction is made up of
a system of public, private, technical, and community colleges. It is
subsidized by the state, but not provided exclusively by the state. It
is beneficial to the community and the state, but still a burden on the
tax payer. Not everyone goes to college. It can actually be better for
some people, interested in trades or technical professions, not to go to college.
While
many parents hope their child will pursue a college degree, sometimes
it's not a good fit. Policymakers would never consider forcing people
to go to college, just like most would never consider forcing a child
to go to pre-k. Many kids go to college and don't get much out of it.
Some attend and find their life calling there, hit the job market
ready, only to be disappointed by the reality of the economy. Even
though there's not a universal measure for college outcomes, it's safe
to say that all college students get something out of their experience.
We don't question the validity of going – it's part of our national
education system and has provided the driving force of our economy for
a long time. But the truth is, every kid who attends pre-k gets
something out of that experience, too.
As it stands, I
consider us to have a college-for-all system. It is not perfect and may
not be entirely equitable, but technology and the Internet are changing
that. There are college students all over the country who attend
universities all over the world through online and face-to-face
classes.
Similarly,
there are pre-kindergarten programs based in other states that operate
all over the country. The effectiveness of these programs varies
greatly from one community — or even one center to another. But the
best of the pre-k classrooms seem to be those that are either entirely
private and expensive or entirely public and focused on outcomes. So
how do we get all children access to these kinds of preschools?
Maybe
we could get to a national pre-k system if we broaden our definition of
what universal means. In the college system, universal means a kid can
go if they want to. They may need to get loans and pay them
back, find grants, or go to community college for a couple of years,
but most of the time, if you want to go, you can. It isn't the same way
with pre-k. In states with targeted pre-k programs, your child can go
if your family is poor and the government will pay, or, if you can
afford private pre-k. What about a community college option for pre-k?
What if we had a system where kids could go and the government would
pay for some of the costs?
can we make it available to all kids. How many different models of
effective pre-k systems are there? Have we found them all yet?
