Comstock Legislation Raises Questions

The Virginia House of Delegates has passed legislation sponsored by State Del. Barbara Comstock, R-McLean,  that would allow school districts to shift a portion of  next year's Virginia Preschool Initiative funds to pay for all-day kindergarten.

 The press release from Del. Comstock, announcing the action, raised several questions among some in McLean who follow education issues primarily: how to pay for all day kindergarten in the following years? Does this take money from poorer children to pay for kindergarten for well-off children?

Comstock introduced the legislation after some parents organized recently  to urge Fairfax County school officials to  finally establish all-day kindergarten in all 138  elementary schools. When the Fairfax County School Board voted to approve the new $2.2 billion schools budget last week, they also directed the superintendent  to develop a plan to put full-day kindergarten in all schools over the next three years.

McLean has no full-time kindergarten at its four elementary schools.They are among 37 schools, the vast majority of which are located in well-off neighborhoods, with only half-day kindergarten.

Comstock said,  her  "amendment will give a school district the option to shift money, for one year, from pre-school funds to complete the implementation of all-day kindergarten . . . This will make approximately $3 million available for Fairfax County with a 50-50 match from the state, instead of the higher match we have for K-12,” Comstock said. Cost of all-day kindergarten: $8 million.

Dranesville School board member Jane Strauss said:  “In general the VPI (Virginia Preschool Initiative)  funds go to the Board of Supervisors and the BOS (Board of Supervisors) use those funds for Headstart type classes. IF this is totally new money, it may mean one thing and if it’s a redirection of money being used for an ongoing, federally involved program for high poverty 3 and 4 year olds, this could mean something else.”

Ed Saperstein, chair of the Education Committee of the McLean Citizens Association said: “On balance I'd say the budget amendment is an interesting idea.  It theoretically helps ADK(all day kindergarten)  but, since it could take funds away from pre-school, it could be tricky.”

The Virginia Preschool Initiative distributes state funds to schools and community-based organizations to provide quality preschool programs for at-risk four-year olds unserved by Head Start, according to the Virginia Department of Education website.   In plain English this money is used to help educate children from poorer households.

 Does Comstock’s bill shift money meant for the county’s poorer children to pay for all day kindergarten for children from well-off households?

Her answer:" What my budget amendment does is provide the county the option for a one time shifting of funding (some or all) from pre-school state funds to use for all day kindergarten in the 37 schools that do not yet have it. . .
 
"The so called “transition” to all day kindergarten has been going on for years now and they keep making our schools in the 34th district last on the list.  Our area does pay some of the highest taxes in the county and the state, but our families range in income just like every other area of the county.  Our residents are essentially paying for all day kindergarten for lots of kids throughout the county and state, while their own children don’t get all day kindergarten.  Many working parents have to pay extra for child care or use private kindergarten instead.  All our parents are asking for is equal treatment and to have their kids get the same all day kindergarten that over 100 of our Fairfax schools have already had for years. "

Shaista Keating, who helped organize the group pushing for all day kindergarten said:  "Fairfax for Full Day Kindergarten is happy to have visibility at the State level and grateful for the legislature's support for Full Day Kindergarten.  We hope that our State representatives and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will follow the path set by the Fairfax County School Board to increase investment in education so the academic needs of all Fairfax County children are met.  In times of scarce resources, Virginia's children must be our #1 priority."

Stay tuned.