Early education still short of funds

July 22, 2008

I am pleased that education officials cited investments in early childhood education as one of the factors contributing to recent improvements in math and reading scores in Maryland schools. However, I respectfully take issue with The Sun's suggestion that the state has "poured" additional money into early education ("Test scores rise," July 15).

Although there have been important funding increases for several programs, most major components of early childhood education continue to be substantially under-funded.

For example, public prekindergarten programs - which have a proven record of preparing children to succeed in school - are funded only for children from very low-income families.

Other states are far ahead of Maryland in recognizing the long-term benefits of such investment and in implementing plans to offer public prekindergarten to all children.

Other major components of early childhood education in Maryland are also underfunded, including child care resource centers, family support centers and the state's child care subsidy program.

All of these play an important role in preparing children to enter school ready to succeed and to achieve continued improvements in test scores. Yet they all need increased funding to achieve their full potential.

I urge state legislators to pass a budget for fiscal year 2010 that expands the early childhood education programs that are proved to contribute to school readiness and successful academic outcomes.

Steve Rohde

Baltimore

The writer is acting executive director of the Maryland Committee for Children.

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Early education still short of funds

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