State goes to kindergarten

It's hard to say no to a child's education.\nAnd still, Gov. Joe Kernan's proposal to expand state-funded, full-day kindergarten to 20,000 more Indiana children by this fall -- and all children by 2007 -- isn't turning out to be a black-and-white debate.\nWe have our own concerns on each side of the issue. Certainly, before any government proposal can go into effect, one must ask how it is going to be paid for. The question, as always, is, can we afford it? And if so, where will the money come from?\nKernan says we can afford it, but it's at the expense of money for schools already. He would ask the General Assembly to divert $30 million in lottery profits and casino taxes for the next three years from the teacher pension fund and spend it on full-day kindergarten. \n Additionally, he is seeking a state constitutional amendment so money already in the Common School Fund (used to provide low-interest loans for school building projects), and $11.5 million which would go into the fund, could be diverted toward the costs.\n The plan is also banking on an unstable prediction of a 3-percent decline in school enrollment by 2012, as forecasted by the U.S. Department of Education, because of lower birth rates.\nSome parents, however, question the curriculum of full-day kindergarten, versus a half day. Are full-day kindergarten schools teaching children more, or are they essentially teaching the same curriculum, but spreading it over the entire day?\nSome question whether 5-year-old children are ready to sit in a classroom all day, and whether a half-day is a good way to ease them into all-day elementary education. Some even question whether full-day kindergarten is merely tax-funded day care. \nThese are concerns that should be answered before the program goes into effect. \nStill, full-day kindergarten has its benefits -- which we are unable to deny. It is an educational leg-up which may help students become more accustomed to full-day classes later in their educational paths.\nIndiana students, who learn English as a second language, are already starting behind students who learn English at home. Full-day kindergarten may help them catch up with their better-prepared peers and help close the gaps.\nLast week, the House Education Committee endorsed Kernan's plan by a vote for 10-4. All four no votes came from Republicans, who have concerns about the state starting an expensive program when it faces a $1 billion deficit.\nConsidering the federal and state deficits, it is not clear a sustainable program can start now, but there still may be time to come up with alternative funding. Let's take a look, and try our best not to say no to a child's education.