Email from Michelle Rhee - What does this mean? PS and Pre-K will be merged?

[Anonymous]

August 18, 2010

Dear Parents,


Today, Kathleen Sebelius, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, joined Mayor Fenty and I to announce that beginning August 23, all locally-funded pre-K and Head Start classrooms in DCPS’s 68 Title 1 elementary schools will merge.

By blending local and federal dollars this innovative school-wide HS model will dramatically improve the quality and breadth of services for 3- and 4-year-olds, helping to ensure that DCPS’ youngest learners receive the supports they need to learn and thrive in kindergarten and beyond.

Under the Head Start School-wide model, all of the children in these blended early childhood classrooms will receive the same comprehensive early care and early education. This means that additional children will benefit from the comprehensive services that meet the high quality requirements of the Head Start Performance Standards.

Research has shown that comprehensive early learning approach gives children a significant boost as they enter school. Head Start provides our youngest learners strong academic programs, health and developmental screenings, nutritional meals and snacks, and family support inside and outside, of the classroom.

The 2010-11 school year marks a new beginning; this is important news for our children and families, many of who are experiencing DC public schools for the first time. Improving early childhood education has been a cornerstone of this administration –because we know the future success of our students depends in large part on the direction and support they receive at the beginning during these formative years.

We made the decision to prioritize early childhood and make a bold investment in the future of the District. We’re excited to move one step closer to sustaining achievement for all our students.



Sincerely,

Michelle Rhee

[Anonymous]

Am I reading the link correctly? There won't be any more income requirements for 3 year olds?? I hope so!

http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/earlychildhood

[Anonymous]

Previously, there were income requirements to join a pk3 class. Now there isn't so everyone is eligble and can take advantage of head start services.

[Anonymous]

Wow- that is fabulous news!

[Anonymous]

yeah, awesome. Let's fill the Pre-K3 spots with affluent white kids. Go Michelle!

[Anonymous]

Most, if not all, of the PK3 classrooms are in low income neighborhoods and Title 1 schools. None in upper NW for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yeah, awesome. Let's fill the Pre-K3 spots with affluent white kids. Go Michelle!

This was my gut reaction, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Today, Kathleen Sebelius, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, joined Mayor Fenty and I to announce that beginning August 23 .....

Did she - the esteemed head of the entire school system tasked with properly educating our children - actually say that??? Even if she doesn't know proper grammar, shouldn't she have someone on staff to proofread her communications??

[Anonymous]

Ouch, this hurts my eyes and ears.

[Anonymous]

You know it might not be a bad thing for affluent white kids and some not so affluent kids to share a space together. A little empathy early on usually is not a bad thing.

[Anonymous]

Except that the affluent white kids don't need the help to catch up, the free food, etc. Better that the spots should go to kids who really need them. I think that this is just another way to try to reel in white middle class families.

[Anonymous]

Gray wants to add more pk3 and birth to 3 programs. It's a movement across the country across all socio-economic groups.

[Anonymous]

The timing indicates a political tactic. Rhee is SO BIG TIME what with her national news and her mayor's Bloomberg endorsement...she's hired an Obama PR person and is headlining National HHS names toward little 'ole DCPS...I'm just praying I don't end up feeling this cynical about Obama himself soon enough. But getting the heeby jeebies from the triangulation of Bloomberg, Duncan, Rhee, Kevin Johnson, TFA, and now HHS...

[Anonymous]

That's not triangulation, that's sextagonizing.

[Anonymous]

Wait, I am missing something here ... why would an "affluent white" parent want to send their 3 yr old to a Title I school in a Title I neighborhood?

If the parents meet the true definition of "affluent" then they have 18 - 20 options for preschool. Preschool tuition is no big thing when you're affluent.