Lawmakers disagree over early education: Some say program too costly; others call it important

DAILY MAIL CAPITOL REPORTER

A battle is brewing between the Senate and the House of Delegatesover a bill that would restrict the enrollment of 4-year-olds inearly childhood programs at public schools.

House Education Chairman Jerry Mezzatesta pushed the bill throughthe House, saying county school systems were increasing enrollment of4-year-olds to qualify for more money under the state school aidformula at a rate the state could not afford.

But Sen. John Unger contends that the increase in enrollment of 4-year-olds is more than offset by the overall decline in enrollment inWest Virginia schools. He also cites studies that show the benefitsof early childhood education are so great that West Virginia would beworse off if it doesn't invest in it.

"Invest now or invest more later," Unger, D-Berkeley, said."Research also shows a lot of the brain development, a lot of thelearning, occurs between birth and 5 years old."

A report for the Southern Regional Education Board found that high-quality pre-kindergarten programs could help children be betterprepared for school, improve students' scores on standardized tests,reduce students' chances of repeating a grade, reduce referrals tospecial education and improve students chances of finishing highschool. Those findings were based on evaluations of 10 programs.

Another study conducted by the High/Scope Educational ResearchFoundation of adults who were born into poverty and then participatedin high-quality, active learning pre-school programs at ages 3 and 4found they had half as many criminal arrests, higher earnings andproperty wealth and greater commitment to marriage than counterpartswho didn't participate in such programs. Over participants'lifetimes, the public receives an estimated $7.16 for every dollaroriginally invested, the study found.

Considering that West Virginia has the lowest per capita income inthe nation and a high rate of children in poverty, Unger said thestate needs to take advantage of early childhood education programsif it expects to compete with states like Ohio, Pennsylvania andMaryland. That's especially true as the tough standards of thefederal No Child Left Behind Act takes effect in the years ahead, hesaid.

But Mezzatesta, D-Hampshire, said the state can't afford to letcounty school systems increase enrollment of 4-year-olds because Gov.Bob Wise has not included any extra money in the school aid formula.

"Tell them to identify where the money is going to come from,"Mezzatesta said of senators such as Unger who are opposed to theHouse bill.

The House bill no longer would allow counties to get fundingthrough the school aid formula for enrolling more 4-year-olds. Schoolsystems would have to create pre-school education plans and getpermission from the Legislature to increase enrollment of childrenunder age 5.

Tom Lange, president of the West Virginia Education Association,said his group still is studying the House bill but is concernedabout taking money for 4-year-olds out of the school aid formula.

"We think it's important that 4-year-olds receive an education,"he said. "It's critical in development."

Unger is defending a law that former Senate Education ChairmanLloyd Jackson, D-Lincoln, pushed through the Legislature last year torequire pre-school education for 4-year-olds to be available in allcounties by 2012 for everyone who wants it, either through publicschools, Head Start or other programs.

"We can afford it, because the money has already been allocated,and if we don't spend it for early childhood education, we're goingto end up spending it for other things other than education," Ungersaid.

From last year to this year, overall school enrollment in thestate dropped by 641 students. Unger said that if public schools takeon an additional 500 4-year-olds each year, as projected, the stateschool system still would have a net decrease of 141 students thisyear and enough money to cover costs.

But Mezzatesta said that's not so, because Wise already hascaptured the money that would be saved by declining enrollment andused it elsewhere in the state's tight budget.

Unger said Senate leaders haven't determined what they will dowith the House bill, but they're likely to change it if they don'tkill it.

Writer Jim Wallace can be reached at 348-4819 or by e-mail atjimw@dailymail.com.