Some Democrats running for President think so
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| Democratic politicians want to help ease the burden of childcare |
Free universal pre-kindergarten for all three and four year olds is being touted aggressively by two men running for president. Both Bill deBlasio and Julian Castro propose it. As mayors of New York City and San Antonio, TX, respectively, they have experience with such programs. Both men initiated them for four year olds - and both have been considered successful. Other candidates have expressed interest in universal pre-K, but not as forcefully as Castro and deBlasio. Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, John Delaney, and Jay Inslee all want it in some form.
A successful pre-K plan has to both help children get ready for kindergarten and help families save money. Additionally, it should raise the pay of pre-K teachers.
Publicly funded pre-K would ease the financial burden on families with small children. For example, The Care Index found that the average cost of care for a four year old in Illinois is $10,414 - about 19% of the median household income, and about 61% of income for a single parent earning a minimum wage. (The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines affordable child care as being no more than 10% of a family's income.) (From a New America article titled "Policy Recommendations: Universal Pre-K" by Abbie Liederman.)
Some would argue that poor families can avail themselves of the Head Start Program, which is available to families living at or below the poverty line, the homeless, any foster child, or families receiving public assistance. Head Start, though, does not address the pre-K needs of families living much above the poverty line.
Others look to the Head Start Program to argue agains universal pre-K, stating that the benefits gained during the program fade soon after the children enter kindergarten. In a study released on 12/20/17 titled "Head Start Programs have Significant Benefits for Children at the Bottom of the Skill Distribution" by Marianne P. Bitler, UC Davis; Hilary Hoynes, UC Berkeley; and Thurston Domina, UNC, sponsored by The Center for Poverty Research at the University of California, Davis, found that while academic results often fade for most children - those who were in the bottom of the "achievement spectrum" seem to benefit long-term. There is also a question of whether the disappearing benefit is the fault of Head Start, or of a failing public school education. And people are just starting to study the apparent positive impact that emerges when former Head Start students become teenagers.
It will be interesting to see if this issue gains traction as the campaign season progresses. Families with small children will be happy if it does.
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