Our View: A pre-K problem, created by Idaho lawmakers

"In the winter of 2007, before the Great Recession, the Legislature considered a simple bill to encourage voluntary pre-K programs (in other words, no school district would be mandated to provide pre-K, and no parent would be required to enroll their child). These programs would not have been eligible for a dime of state funding. But lawmakers said no anyway.

By slamming the brakes on voluntary pre-K programs, which would at least qualify for local funding or federal grants, the lawmakers left parents to shoulder the burden of costs of early education. No one can be surprised that some parents are opting out. Meanwhile, no one should expect anything more than crocodile tears from some quarters at the Statehouse."

Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/11/16/1420092/a-pre-k-problem-created-by-lawmakers.html#ixzz15RROi5s8