By Kira Harris
Governor Shumlin signed the Universal Pre-K Education Act (Vermont Act 166) into law in the spring of 2014. This law is part of a national trend promoting universal preschool education. In Vermont, starting in the fall of 2016, 3-, 4- and 5-year-old children not attending kindergarten will have universal access to prekindergarten education. This funding covers the equivalent of 10 hours of preschool education per week.
Children are better prepared to succeed in school and in life when they have access to high-quality early education. Act 166 provides all children the opportunity to enter kindergarten with the skills necessary for future success. Research demonstrates that high-quality pre-k increases a child's chances of succeeding in school and in life. Children who attend high-quality programs are less likely to be held back a grade, less likely to need special education and more likely to graduate from high school.
They also have higher earnings as adults and are less likely to become dependent on welfare or involved with law enforcement. (Pew Charitable Trusts Research & Analysis). High-quality early education also supports the family and nurtures the development of lasting relationships for children and their families.
Under Act 166, public schools must provide access to early education either by providing programs directly in the schools or by partnering with existing qualified community-based programs. Washington West Supervisory Union has operated a similar partnership since 2002 through which some families were able to take advantage of this funding.
This had been dependent on public school enrollment and guidelines set by individual school boards. Now Act 166 will make the funding available to all families of 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds not attending kindergarten and offer them their choice of programs in both public and prequalified private preschool programs like Spring Hill School.
In addition to providing high-quality education for young children, the teachers at the public and private schools in the Washington West Preschool Partnership have been meeting regularly and working together for the past 14 years.
This group of dedicated teachers has studied numerous issues, theories and pedagogies related to early education. Recent topics include mindfulness, early literacy and an in-depth study of the Reggio Emilia approach. Currently, the group is working with educators from the Opal School in Portland, Oregon, on a literacy and storytelling project. A primary focus of the preschool partnership has been to improve the quality of early education programs located within the geographic region comprised of Washington West Supervisory Union.
Now, with the implementation of Act 166, parents will be free to choose which program works best for their family. For a comprehensive listing of prequalified programs please visit the Act 166 website: http://education.vermont.gov/act-166.
Feel free to contact me for more information on Act 166 or to inquire about enrollment at Spring Hill School.
Kira Harris is the director of Spring Hill School, Waitsfield.
