Closing observations:

The failures in education have been reported for some time and have been blamed on schools and teachers. Not all the kids show up ready for school. The worst districts seem to be located in the inter-city. There are maps of economic disparity, used by the banking industry to identify neighborhoods that they must attempt to serve to fulfill an obligation under the Community Reinvestment Act. Overlaying those maps with results from school districts in the state will show this is a poverty issue.

I was drawn to this subject after watching a news program about a young man who tried to take a gun away from a police officer. The young man was killed. I wondered why the young man would believe there could be a positive outcome from that move. It turns out there is a possible explanation when exposed severe toxic stress the “fight or flight instinct takes over and interferes with executive function.

The operational model of the Department of Education does not line up with the problem. Half-day Pre-Kindergarten, for 180 days is not adequate.

Poorly Written Programs

‘One of the endemic problems with targeted programs has to do with the fact that poverty is transitory (Barnett et al., 2004). Eligibility thresholds tied to family income are usually linked to the federal poverty line. But as family incomes go over and under those thresholds, children’s educational experiences are often interrupted or never undertaken.’

‘In addition, many targeted programs, including Minnesota’s scholarship program, offer scholarships to eligible families that cover only a certain percentage of the overall cost of participation, leading to even more families who may meet eligibility requirements but be unable to participate in the program.’
Education Minnesota’s EPIC report on Pre-Kindergarten

Education Minnesota (the Teachers Union) points out the problem of poorly written legislation. A more thoughtful approach, a sliding scale program would alleviate these problems.

Transient families are given as another reason for the scholarship model not working. Impoverished families do move more often. Pre-Kindergarten, ½ day, during the school year, offers little value to these families. However, a full day, year-round program that is willing to work with these families becomes a more critical resource.

It also seems odd to me that the legislature allows for about $7,500 per child for 1/2 preschool and $7,500 for the year-round full-day daycare.