There’s no doubt about the importance of children showing up for the first day of elementary school armed with basic skills – like knowing the alphabet – and a desire to learn.
That’s why we supported the passage of Denver Measure 1A last fall, which would raise the sales tax in Denver to subsidize preschool for kids, particularly those from poor families.
So it was disappointing to hear that the program, for which taxes have been collected since January, likely won’t be fully up and running until January 2008.
In fairness, the material that the Preschool Matters campaign distributed widely didn’t list a start date for the program. On Wednesday, organizers made available materials used in a presentation to the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce that posed a January 2008 start date. However, the fact that some Denver officials were under the impression that 4-year-olds would be able to enroll in this program this fall says something as well.
It speaks to the lack of specificity about the program and slow movement in getting it off the ground. The board set up to oversee the program didn’t begin meeting until March 27. Its members still are hashing out how to rate which preschools have quality programs and family eligibility parameters. Organizers haven’t yet finalized the legal work creating a nonprofit that will handle the program’s money.
Denver City Council member Charlie Brown characterized a January 2008 start date as a “setback.”
Convincing voters to approve 1A, the preschool measure, was a difficult task, and the vote was close. Previous early childhood education ballot measures were shot down in 2000 and 2001. This proposal, which is financially more modest than its predecessors, was supported by a host of civic and government organizations.
In a leap of faith, Denver voters approved 1A, increasing the city sales tax by 0.12 percent (12 cents on a $100 purchase). It will raise an estimated $12 million annually, which will go to parents in the form of tuition credits for 4-year-olds attending approved preschools. Aid will be awarded on a sliding scale, based on family income.
With the support of voters comes a responsibility to deliver what was promised on a timely basis. Ensuring that children enter the Denver school system with a strong foundation of skills is an important mission.
The fact that the start date wasn’t clearly communicated and that organizers didn’t move more swiftly have sounded a discordant first note in what we hope to be an otherwise successful program.
