"Every child deserves quality Pre-K"-- funding for Regional Technical Assistance Center is announced
On Tuesday, July 23, Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages and New York State Senator Monica Martinez announced successful efforts to get state funding for a
Regional Pre-K Technical Assistance Center on Long Island.
During a well-attended press conference they spoke about the importance of Pre-K for children on Long Island.
"We are here for one purpose," said Martinez. "We're here for our children and our children's future. As a former
educator, I can tell the difference between children who went through quality early education and those who did not."
(Click here to read the Newsday article about the press conference.)
Pre-K impacts economic growth along with child development
Solages, whose district borders Queens, has heard from families moving to Nassau County from New York City. "I hear from parents moving here who were astounded to hear there is no public Pre-K. They're telling their friends not to leave the City."
Matt Cohen from the Long Island Association explained why the business community values
accessible, affordable and reliable Pre-K. "It's about workforce productivity and retaining young professionals. The funding for the Technical Assistance Center is just a downpayment when it comes to this issue."
Long Island remains the least-funded region in the state when it comes to Pre-K: only about 10% of our 4 year olds have access to a state-supported full-day program. And most of the available funding has gone to districts designated as low wealth. "It's time that
districts like Valley Stream #13 get our share of state funding," said Superintendent Dr. Constance Evelyn. "Like many Long Island school districts, we have pockets of poverty."
The role of the Regional Pre-K Technical Assistance Center
Using the $475,000 one-year grant from the legislature, this new service will build on the work of The Long Island Pre-K Initiative and will help school districts and community-based organizations (CBOs), ensuring children will have access to high-quality Pre-K wherever they live. It will provide support and guidance to any organization--large or small--planning to start, expand or improve a Pre-K program. On-site coaching, mentoring and workshops and seminars are only a few of the ways the Technical Assistance Center will support Pre-K in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
"For our region to thrive, the CBO's are critically important," explained Lucinda Hurley, coordinator of The Long Island Pre-K Initiative. "School districts may not have the space--or may not have the early education expertise."
Uniondale parent Sara Morrison spoke about the difference Pre-K has made in her daughter's development--and how she wished her older children had had the same opportunity.
"All of us here today believe that every child deserves access to a full public education," said Dr. Evelyn. "And that will only be complete when it includes Pre-K."
