Educators recommend early education for students

The Monroe County Community School Corporation and the United States Department of Education both agree education should start early.

The U.S. Congress introduced the Strong Start for America’s Children Act in November, which is a 10-year program meant to fund preschool for 4-year-old children from families at less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

According to a press release, this bill is important for children’s futures.

“The early learning bill introduced today (Nov. 13) reflects a growing, bipartisan understanding that to ensure our nation’s children have the educational and economic opportunities they deserve, we must act early,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a statement.

MCCSC Director of Primary Education Tammy Miller said MCCSC has more than 200 students enrolled in preschool across the district, representing different socioeconomic backgrounds.

“Our programs include our fee-based Ready Set Grow program, as well as Title One Preschools in Grandview, Fairview, Templeton and Summit elementary schools,” Miller said. “We have been fortunate to have the support of the Community Foundation to get support for initiating each of our Title Preschools.“

Miller said she believes additional funding from the proposed bill could help families in MCCSC who need more money for early
schooling.

— Stephen Kroll