Would free Pre-K in East and North Moco improve the school system?

[Anonymous]

Would it attract young and educated families to move there? Would it be costly for the county? As you may guess, I am far from understanding the issue of public education but curious if it's on other people's minds.

[Anonymous]

No. There have been recent studies that show any gains made from Head Start type programs are lost by Middle School.

Also, MCPS can barely educate the kids it already has. There is not enough money for the students already IN the system. How will they pay for additional kids? Where will they put all the 4 year olds?

Not a good idea.

[Anonymous]

I know mcps currently offers pre-k to low income students. I believe mcps is looking into the possibility of offering universal pre-k in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know mcps currently offers pre-k to low income students. I believe mcps is looking into the possibility of offering universal pre-k in the future.

My DD has a friend from a low-income family. She is very smart and sweet but has lower expectation of herself in academics and informed my DD that she doesn't really need to go to college because for her acting career, all she needs is connections. I have to say that I have a lot of respect for her parents as they are VERY hard-working first generation immigrants trying to do the very best for their kids. But my question is, if that girl had a pre-K and a very successful start at her elementary school, would she be more motivated today in her middle school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. There have been recent studies that show any gains made from Head Start type programs are lost by Middle School.

Also, MCPS can barely educate the kids it already has. There is not enough money for the students already IN the system. How will they pay for additional kids? Where will they put all the 4 year olds?

Not a good idea.

There have also been recent studies that show that high-quality pre-K has a lasting positive effect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would it attract young and educated families to move there? Would it be costly for the county? As you may guess, I am far from understanding the issue of public education but curious if it's on other people's minds.

There are plenty of young families in the east county and upcounty. Perhaps you are referring to middle-class families?

[Anonymous]

I work in a school in North MoCo where we have Pre-K. The majority of the students go to our Kindergarten and the data is pretty shocking. It's not good. A few come in knowing their numbers and letters but not many. Pre-K is only about 3 hours a day. The morning class eats breakfast, has a little bit of academic time, goes to specials, plays outside and then eats lunch and goes home. The afternoon class comes in, eats lunch, has a little bit of academic time, goes to specials, plays outside and packs up to go home.

Is it better than nothing? Sure, I guess. But I don't see the kids who had Pre-K coming into K with any huge advantage over the kids who didn't have Pre-K, especially since absences aren't counted in Pre-K and parents get in bad habits of arriving late and keeping their kids home whenever they feel like it and then act very surprised when those same habits have consequences the next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work in a school in North MoCo where we have Pre-K. The majority of the students go to our Kindergarten and the data is pretty shocking. It's not good. A few come in knowing their numbers and letters but not many. Pre-K is only about 3 hours a day. The morning class eats breakfast, has a little bit of academic time, goes to specials, plays outside and then eats lunch and goes home. The afternoon class comes in, eats lunch, has a little bit of academic time, goes to specials, plays outside and packs up to go home.

Is it better than nothing? Sure, I guess. But I don't see the kids who had Pre-K coming into K with any huge advantage over the kids who didn't have Pre-K, especially since absences aren't counted in Pre-K and parents get in bad habits of arriving late and keeping their kids home whenever they feel like it and then act very surprised when those same habits have consequences the next year.

I don't believe you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work in a school in North MoCo where we have Pre-K. The majority of the students go to our Kindergarten and the data is pretty shocking. It's not good. A few come in knowing their numbers and letters but not many. Pre-K is only about 3 hours a day. The morning class eats breakfast, has a little bit of academic time, goes to specials, plays outside and then eats lunch and goes home. The afternoon class comes in, eats lunch, has a little bit of academic time, goes to specials, plays outside and packs up to go home.

Is it better than nothing? Sure, I guess. But I don't see the kids who had Pre-K coming into K with any huge advantage over the kids who didn't have Pre-K, especially since absences aren't counted in Pre-K and parents get in bad habits of arriving late and keeping their kids home whenever they feel like it and then act very surprised when those same habits have consequences the next year.

This is exactly how it is when kids come into K at our Focus School.

It's a free program, with no consequences for not attending, so parents don't take it very seriously. Which is fine, but it's not consistent for the kids.

Also, the quality is nowhere near the quality of a good preschool. Parents with the means to afford a private pre-school would just pay for that, even if the free alternative was offered to all. The ratios for the Head Start programs are usually much higher than most of the good quality preschools in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work in a school in North MoCo where we have Pre-K. The majority of the students go to our Kindergarten and the data is pretty shocking. It's not good. A few come in knowing their numbers and letters but not many. Pre-K is only about 3 hours a day. The morning class eats breakfast, has a little bit of academic time, goes to specials, plays outside and then eats lunch and goes home. The afternoon class comes in, eats lunch, has a little bit of academic time, goes to specials, plays outside and packs up to go home.

Is it better than nothing? Sure, I guess. But I don't see the kids who had Pre-K coming into K with any huge advantage over the kids who didn't have Pre-K, especially since absences aren't counted in Pre-K and parents get in bad habits of arriving late and keeping their kids home whenever they feel like it and then act very surprised when those same habits have consequences the next year.

This is exactly how it is when kids come into K at our Focus School.

It's a free program, with no consequences for not attending, so parents don't take it very seriously. Which is fine, but it's not consistent for the kids.

Also, the quality is nowhere near the quality of a good preschool. Parents with the means to afford a private pre-school would just pay for that, even if the free alternative was offered to all. The ratios for the Head Start programs are usually much higher than most of the good quality preschools in this area.

I'm the PP you quoted and I also teach at a Focus school. The PP above me can not believe me all they want, but it's the truth.

[Anonymous]

I suspect you posted both fake responses. If not name the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work in a school in North MoCo where we have Pre-K. The majority of the students go to our Kindergarten and the data is pretty shocking. It's not good. A few come in knowing their numbers and letters but not many. Pre-K is only about 3 hours a day. The morning class eats breakfast, has a little bit of academic time, goes to specials, plays outside and then eats lunch and goes home. The afternoon class comes in, eats lunch, has a little bit of academic time, goes to specials, plays outside and packs up to go home.

Is it better than nothing? Sure, I guess. But I don't see the kids who had Pre-K coming into K with any huge advantage over the kids who didn't have Pre-K, especially since absences aren't counted in Pre-K and parents get in bad habits of arriving late and keeping their kids home whenever they feel like it and then act very surprised when those same habits have consequences the next year.

Thank you for an insightful observation. So Pre-K exists but just doesn't do anything... I guess I was comparing it to my DD's Montessori half day Pre-K - I am completely out of touch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect you posted both fake responses. If not name the school.

I'm 21:36 and 22:15. Why is this so hard to believe to you? What is your experience with working in a school with Pre-K? I'm curious to hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect you posted both fake responses. If not name the school.

I'm 22:12. Why would I post a fake response? I won't name the school, but it's a FOCUS school in Silver Spring.

At any rate, you don't have to believe me. And, of course, you're welcome to post your own success stories if you'd like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect you posted both fake responses. If not name the school.

I'm 21:36 and 22:15. Why is this so hard to believe to you? What is your experience with working in a school with Pre-K? I'm curious to hear.

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