Childrens' education advocates are urging Mississippi lawmakers to expand a successful Pre-K program that's not accessible statewide. MPB's Desare Frazier reports.
Mississippi advocates for the Early Learning Collaboratives say 76 percent of 4-year olds are ready for kindergarten after completing the Pre-K program. Jennifer Calvert operates the ABC Preschool and Nursery in Monroe County. She leads a collaborative that's a partnership between three school districts, three Headstarts and two day care centers.
"It's the hands on materials and everything that we produce, the learning centers, the outcomes when they go take the MCAT's, it's very good," said Calvert.
Calvert is among the education advocates meeting with the House and Senate Education Committees seeking more funding. Rachel Canter with the non-profit Mississippi First says there are 18 learning collaboratives statewide, serving only 22-hundred children.
"So we have one of the highest quality programs in the country but one the smallest programs in terms of size. We would love to see that grow because we know it works and we know that quality is there," said Canter.
Canter says the program received $6.7 million in 2019. She wants $18 million for fiscal year 2021 to more than double the program. Canter says there aren't any in some counties on the Gulf Coast and in a large portion of the middle of the state. Senate Education Chair Republican Dennis DeBar of Leakesville says an increase maybe possible.
"The funding is an issue and we have money this year for several things but we have lots of priorities
but I'll be working close with Senator Hopson, the appropriations chairman to plus that number up," said DeBar.
House members also say its important to support the program. Rachel Canter says they also rely on tax credits to fill funding gaps. That mean people can donate to a collaborative and it's deducted from their state income tax.
