From city Communications Director Brett Broesder:
Today, the federal government announced that Bridgeport, Conn. will be getting 180 new pre-k seats for kids, in addition to 90 renovation seats. These pre-k seats will be funded by the federal government for the next four years. It’s been awarded by the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services through a competitive grant process and was announced by the White House.
In response, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch heralded this as great new for kids in the state’s largest city.
“This is great news for kids and moves us one step closer to our goal of universal pre-k. As a parent, and mayor of the state’s largest city, I’ve seen firsthand how tough it is for kids who don’t have access to high-quality early childhood education. And research is clear: If kids aren’t reading at the level they should be by third grade, they’re less likely to graduate. We need to do more for our kids. That’s why these funds are so important. Between today’s announcement, and the additional seats given by Governor Malloy and the state legislature, we’ve gained more than 325 new seats over the last two years. It’s another great step in our effort to ensure all kids have access good pre-k programs, which will help prepare them to one day compete for 21st century jobs.”
Bridgeport Superintendent Fran Rabinowitz added that this is good start toward getting all kids access to pre-k programs in the city.
“I’m thrilled about this announcement. Currently, more than one-in-four kids that are eligible for pre-k in Bridgeport do not have access. That’s unacceptable. But thanks to these new seats, we’re moving one step closer to achieving the goal of universal pre-k for kids. It’s another example of how Bridgeport schools are getting better every day.”
Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) highlighted that this is a smart investment by the federal government in a better future for kids.
“Early childhood education programs are some of the smartest investments we can make as a nation to help children succeed and improve our communities. I was proud to join the state and the city of Bridgeport in pushing for this grant, which will boost the number of pre-school spots for low and middle-income children in Bridgeport. I will keep urging Congress to pass legislation I’ve introduced–modeled on successful efforts in Bridgeport–to expand and improve early education across the country.
In the first few years of life the primary educators of the infant then child are mother and father (if present), the extended family at home, and the broader community where one lives, worships and shops. In a poor urban community where children are born to mothers who have not completed their own secondary schooling and whose family situations are not healthy or stable, the child enters daycare or schooling at significant disadvantage to contemporaries in other communities.
What are the real numbers of pre-K opportunities at present? How many of these are “quality” such that they prepare the children emotionally, socially, and with basic educational rudiments relative to the spoken word such that they can learn and thrive when they get to Kindergarten where the task is to learn to read? What is the pre-K gap in Bridgeport? Isn’t that the first step to solving a critical problem? Additional Federal and State funding is wonderful, even if it is over in a few years, but how does it deal with our present condition? By the numbers? Time will tell.
You can hate me, but I have a class of 7th graders. All good kids mind you and most have raised their hands as having gone to pre-K. The truth is this is just a gross waste of government money. They are paying the system to babysit. I have seen it all and honestly it is just a babysitting service. Even with the development of social skills, honestly it is not working. What are the parents responsible for? I am all for women’s rights and birth control. The Government can save money so many ways. This would be one of them. Having children is a wonderful thing but let’s face it, pre-K is just a free babysitting service after day care.
Steve, if you want to be part of the Finch cartel, you can’t disagree with the Big Mahuffa. Now as a good Finchette, we will be waiting for your retraction.
I know a good woman who is a literacy specialist with experience in primary grades in three states over more than 30 years. She has worked in urban, suburban with significant minority population and rural populations.
She is working in a District school with kindergarten students primarily. After doing initial assessments she along with paraprofessionals of dedication and skill is working daily with those children who appear to be least ready for reading. For the most part aptitude is not a problem, but absences are because absences interrupt the flow of basic learning. So parental issues do make a difference.
I reference “quality” pre-K experience and that is what I would stand for. But I will defer to the professionals as to how to construct a system that uses motivated and qualified individuals to provide basic instruction at appropriate developmental levels to prepare the youngsters for what the system stands ready to provide. I am encouraged to hear her reports and hope to see a record of achievement as the year progresses. How does a system continue to pass along students who do not meet their benchmarks, who cannot read appropriate to age and who cannot compute adequately? Must be frustrating for the kids. And for the teachers. How do administrators feel? Time will tell.
Congratulations to our Interim Superintendent of Schools, Fran Rabinowitz. She’s just done more for Bridgeport Public Schools than Vallas ever did.
Steve, there is BBOE and national data that supports the importance of pre-K and those students in Bridgeport who attend pre-K perform over 40% better on standardized tests when compared to students who enter the BPS without it, however there are studies that have also shown by the time children enter middle school many of these academic achievements over students who never received pre-K evaporate.
Maria, it is a free babysitting service. These 7th graders are going to high school in a year and are not ready. I went to Blackham school when I moved to Connecticut from New York. 5th grade compared to 4th grade back in 1967. I didn’t go to nursery school in New York. We were fortunate to live in high rises with so many kids to socialize with. If pre-K is intended to address social skills then at what point do these kids develop their antisocial disrespectful attitude? I am all for the free breakfast and lunch but pre-K is a babysitting service.
My daughter benefited from pre-K. It was called Mommy and Daddy. It continued through college.
Anyone take note the mayor’s ministry of public enlightenment is doing the press releases for the board of ed as well as the city council?
Control?
Tom White, I noticed the exact same thing. Did anyone on this thread personally attend a pre-K? I honestly don’t know when pre-K was first available. I would have attended in 1971, however I don’t know if it was even available then. I doubt it.
Ms. Pereira,
I did attend what was called a nursery school that was intended to socialize, instill certain behaviors in a school setting, and indulge in play and other creative activities as preparation for kindergarten. Unfortunately just before attending my first day of kindergarten, I was diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis and spent the better part of that school year at home and in bed. However, attention to reading basics, flash cards for sounds, basic spelling and math addition and subtraction were parental portions of training.
Of course this was pre-1950 and does not apply to the situation today. But it does answer your question. Time will tell.