Creating High Quality Preschool
Creating a high-quality pre-K system available to children across Seattle regardless of economic circumstance is one of the most important things we can do as a city. With the futures of so many children at stake, it is critical we get this right. That means choosing Proposition 1B, the City of Seattle’s preschool plan, over the incompatible and irresponsible Proposition 1A on the November ballot.
Proposition 1B is the only plan that focuses first and foremost on the well being of our kids. Developed in consultation with the University of Washington and with early learning experts, it is modeled on efforts in several other cities around the country that have demonstrated clear results in improving the lives of kids.
Proposition 1B is the only plan that focuses first and foremost on the well being of our kids.
Unlike Proposition 1A, the City plan is a carefully targeted preschool program that ramps up over time to ensure effective, quality learning for kids. By 2018, the program will be serving 2,000 children across Seattle. Proposition 1B is funded with a modest property lax levy of $14.5 million a year over four years, which translates to about $43 a year for a family living in a $400,000 home, or about $3.50 a month.
That money is used to fund preschool for Seattle’s three- and four-year-olds using a sliding payment scale based on financial need, making preschool free for four-person households making up to $71,000 per year. And it also funds training and skills development for participating teachers and provides funding to construct new preschool classrooms across Seattle.
It is a smart plan, and we believe it will make a major difference in the lives of thousands of kids. Studies show kids who receive quality pre-K have better high school and college graduation rates, lower levels of behavioral problems and delinquency, and experience higher levels of economic success as adults. This plan is also good for preschool teachers – Prop 1B requires that participating lead teachers be paid comparably to kindergarten teachers in the public schools.
While Proposition 1B is fully funded, Proposition 1A has no funding. It provides no money for teacher training or to help families afford preschool. Instead, it irresponsibly imposes about $100 million a year in unfunded mandates on the City, or more than six times the cost of the City proposal. If it passes, the City Budget Office estimates that City government could be forced to slash funding 10 percent across-the-board for all other public services, including police and fire.
Also unlike Prop 1A, Proposition 1B is a voluntary program that ramps up slowly to ensure that the focus remains on quality. It creates partnerships with our public schools, respected non-profits like the Boys and Girls Clubs and the YMCA, and neighborhood quality preschool providers. That is why 1B has the sole endorsement of advocates for early learning like former Mayor Norm Rice, the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP, and the United Way.
And with its promise of finally addressing the achievement and opportunity gap that plagues Seattle kids —by the 3rd grade, nearly a quarter of Seattle school children have already fallen behind, and the numbers are significantly worse for children of color, low income and immigrant kids—Proposition 1B has the strong support of progressive organizations and those that work with lower-income communities. The Seattle Human Services Coalition, Solid Ground, Neighborhood House, Rainier Scholars, El Centro De La Raza, Save the Children Action Network and many others have all endorsed Proposition 1B over Prop 1A.
And unlike Proposition 1A, the City plan (Prop 1B) has the support of the King County Labor Council and of Democratic organizations like the 34th and 43rd District Democrats and the King County Young Democrats.
The result of an inclusive process of consultation with dozens of early learning experts and stakeholder groups that serve our kids, Proposition 1B will ensure our kids have the best possible chance for success in life. Please join us in voting YES for the Seattle Preschool Plan, Proposition 1B on the November ballot.
Bob Gilbertson is the Executive Director of the YMCA of Greater Seattle. Joel Ryan is the Executive Director of the Washington State Association of Head Start & ECEAP.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: The Prop 1A campaign disputes the $100 million-per-year number, saying the measure's mandates will cost $3 million a year to implement. They say the money already exists for it in the city budget. Cola reporter Casey Jaywork reported on the competing claims.]
