 State Rep. Holli Sullivan (R-Evansville) is co-authoring legislation that would expand Indiana’s pre-K pilot program for low income students.
The current On My Way Pre-K pilot program was established in 2014 and serves nearly 2,300 students in Allen, Lake, Marion, Jackson and Vanderburgh counties. Sullivan’s legislation would add up to five more counties.
Children who aren’t ready for Kindergarten are half as likely to read proficiently by third grade. Students who aren’t reading proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of school before graduation, Sullivan said.
“This is one more tool we can use to help close the achievement gap for low-income, at-risk children,†Sullivan said. “As a parent, I understand that one of the most effective ways to support our youth is to offer them high-quality early childhood education opportunities. If we better equip our children through early education and necessary wrap around services it will provide benefits to the entire state.â€
Sullivan said that over time, this program will increase graduation rates, decrease need for remediation and improve wage-earning potential for Indiana’s youth.
House Bill 1004 has been assigned to the House Committee on Education.
Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about HB 1004.
Holly. Ever heard of Head Start?
After a half-century, the jury is still out on Head Start’s effectiveness once the children leave the program. The general opinion is by the third grade there is no significant advantage over the children who weren’t in the program. She cites excerpts from a 2010 Dept. of Health and Human Services report that found very little to be impressed with.
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