DN: Early education advocates claim two-tiered prekindergarten proposal would lead to “chaos and inequity.”
Early education advocates claim two-tiered prekindergarten proposal would lead to “chaos and inequity.”
BY GLENN BLAIN
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, March 28, 2014, 11:17 AM
A group of early education providers and advocates are slamming a state budget proposal that would instill a two-tiered reimbursement rate for universal prekindergarten based on teacher certification.
The group, including the Campaign for Children, the Diocese of Brooklyn and Jewish community leaders, has released a letter to state lawmakers warning that the proposal is unfair and would lead to “chaos and inequity” in the system.
“We strongly oppose the proposal to have a two-tiered reimbursement system for Pre-Kindergarten programs based on teacher certification,” the later stated. “Universal Pre-Kindergarten teachers who are working toward their certification should have funding for the support and teacher training they need to provide quality education while they are studying for their certification.
“A lower reimbursement rate for some providers would lead to chaos and inequity in the early childhood system by cutting funds from community based organizations that provide care and education for New York’s children.”
Under the proposal that’s reportedly part of the still-coming-together budget, pre-K programs with certified teachers would receive a higher reimbursement from the state than would those without certified teachers. Critics have slammed it as a giveaway to the state’s teachers union.
