Is Universal Preschool the Answer?

The debate continues on who should be responsible for preschool – should it be the parents’ responsibility or should the burden fall on the already overtaxed taxpayer? As you are aware, RUSD is expanding their 4-year-old kindergarten (preschool) program this fall.

RUSD does not currently have the space to provide preschool, so it is partnering with other early childhood centers and “leasing” space. Now we find that the Early Childhood Educational Lab at Gateway will be another RUSD 4-year-old kindergarten site. Since Gateway is also funded by tax dollars, isn’t this a case of one taxing authority (RUSD) subsidizing another taxing authority (Gateway)? Just thinking out loud, but will the portion of our property tax that funds Gateway go down or is this what I will call “double dipping”?

The program is not new; preschool has been provided to the children that would benefit the most for years. Instead of just creating more space for the neediest and most vulnerable children of our community; RUSD has made it possible for ALL children to enjoy “free” preschool. I am not stating that early childhood education is not crucial to future success in school; I know that it is. But creating yet another entitlement program for middle class families that can afford “traditional” preschool is not the answer. Our educational system is already strapped for cash and is extremely dysfunctional, why add more fuel to the fire? I think that RUSD needs to fix K-12 education before tackling any new educational initiatives.

Preschool, or 4-year-old kindergarten, is not "free". It is paid for by local and state tax dollars; there may not any out of pocket expenses for the parents, but it is hardly “free”! Remember the old phrase “There is no such thing as a free lunch?”