Latino voters are a growing force in politics, particularly in California, and a new poll in that state found they place a high value on early learning, but more importantly it reports the top reasons why many don’t use it.
Half of surveyed Latino voters said kids are not in preschool because programs don’t fit the schedules of working parents and 40 percent said it was because of a lack of information. The biggest share of parents, 58 percent, cited a lack of affordable programs. Only 14 percent of Latino children go to high-quality preschools, the report said citing other research.
The survey also found widespread support for preschool, with 83 percent of surveyed Latino voters saying it’s “highly important that children attend preschool programs.” The survey was released by Preschool California, a group working to improve early learning in California, so the results are somewhat colored. That’s why the reasons Latino families don’t use early learning programs are more interesting.
In addition: “Two-thirds of Latino voters (65%) think the state is doing too little to ensure all children have access to affordable high-quality preschool.”
Proposed Boost in Oklahoma Ed Spending Could Cut Pre-K: Trouble is brewing in Tulsa, where Republican State Speaker-designate of the House Kris Steele warns an initiative that would boost per-pupil spending could wind up killing pre-kindergarten programs, according to a news report.
The debate is far from settled and reflects the complex and difficult discussions occurring about tight state budgets across the country.
Noting that the measure requires Oklahoma to match regional per-pupil common education spending, Steele said: “One way the Legislature … would be able to meet that goal is to reduce the number of students within our common education system. I’m afraid one of the first things that would go would be our early childhood initiatives.” – House leader says education funding measure would doom early childhood programs.
We will keep following this debate. Meanwhile, check out the story.