Editorial Editorial (October 01, 2004)

Preschool funding deserves a look

It is no secret in the education business that a good preschool experience can make a huge difference in whether a child succeeds or struggles in kindergarten and the lower elementary school grades.

That is why it is sad to see a huge waiting list for the county's preschool programs, which in Mountain View are mostly housed at Castro Elementary School on Escuela Avenue and serve the low-income, immigrant community.

Santa Clara County currently has 270 students on the waiting list for a preschool slot, and more than 100 of these are signed up to fill a vacancy at Castro School. This means that families who often use English as a second language will not see their child begin to learn English until kindergarten. It may not sound like much, but for families living in or near poverty, the chance for a child to get a leg up in learning such an all-important language is crucial.

Kristi Marvin, Mountain View-Whisman's preschool director, told Voice reporter Julie O'Shea last month that children who use the program are better prepared academically for kindergarten and elementary school. "Preschool is actually making a difference," noting how many skills children learn, she said.

Right now, the local district operates four Headstart preschool classes four days a week. Lunch is provided for the children and parents are offered English classes. In addition, the district offers four state-funded preschool classes, three at Castro and one at Slater Elementary School.

County Board of Education officials say there is no more money available, despite the 270 children on the waiting list. To add classrooms would cost the local district between $60,000 and $70,000 apiece, but the funds are not available.

Given the success of preschools, it may be time for Headstart and the state's preschool programs to rethink their priorities. As local schools, particularly Castro, struggle to meet their obligations under the federal government's "No Child Left Behind" program, it makes sense to invest more resources in preschool programs. Students exposed to classroom teaching early are much more apt to learn English and the other skills necessary to succeed in subsequent grades.

The preschool predicament is sending a clear message to school administrators about what is needed to improve the success of many of its students. We just hope someone in the education bureaucracy is listening.

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