My bright, smart, sweet little boy turns 4 in a few months. ::cue Mommy fainting:: This means he will be old enough to start pre-kindergarten next year.
As any prepared parent would do, I called my local Independent School District to see what steps I needed to take in order to get Kade enrolled in a pre-k program. After many back and forth phone calls and an email to the superintendent I was informed that my child is not eligible to enroll in pre-k. Now, as a tax paying citizen of The City of Bryan, I was baffled as to how my child could not utilize the school my taxes help to fund. I was informed that the pre-kindergarten program is not funded by local taxes, but rather Federal and State funding, and Kade could only attend the program if he:
1. is unable to speak and comprehend the English language; or
2. is educationally disadvantaged; or
3. is homeless, as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 1143a, regardless of the residence of the child, of either parent of the child, or of the child’s guardian or other person having lawful control of the child; or
4. is the child of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who is ordered to active duty by proper authority; or
5. is the child of a member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed while serving on active duty; or
6. is or ever has been in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services following an adversary hearing held as provided by Section 262.201, Family Code. TEC §29.153(b) SAAH, Section 7, 7.2
Oh, and if you’re curious what “educationally disadvantaged” means, here is the definition of that:
The term, “educationally disadvantaged,” means eligible to participate in the national free or reduced-price lunch program established under 42 U.S.C. Section 1751 et seq. TEC §5.001(4)
(all data found here)This made me keep digging. It turns out the State of Texas spends around $760 million dollars per year funding this program that is only available to certain children ages 3 – 4. And this offended me.
First off, let’s get one thing straight: in no way am I saying that families in need should not receive help in providing the best possible start for their children. What I am saying though, is that all children should receive a fair chance regardless of their economic standing, and that is not the case in The Great State of Texas. Being a very proud Texan, this disappointed me greatly in the state I think so highly of.
Currently Kade is in a very good daycare program, one I’ve been told repeatedly is one of the best, if not the best, program available in the Bryan/College Station area. It is no coincidence that he happens to be in this program, Nick and I researched the programs and were excited to find an available spot there. We, as all parents, want the best for our children, and we will find a way to give it to them regardless of what it takes.
At the age of 3 Kade knows his ABCs, can count to 20, can count to 10 in Spanish, knows all of his colors, and he can tell you those colors in English, Spanish, and sign language. And that’s just to name a small portion of what he’s learned. I want to continue his learning. He’s 3, he’s a sponge, and he needs to soak up everything he can to help make his transition into school for the next 15 years of his life a smooth successful one.
But also let me state that I am not being “denied” pre-kindergarten. I can absolutely enroll Kade into pre-kindergarten…at a private school.
The options? Well, Kade can stay in daycare while he is 4, which I do not see is fair to him in the least bit, or I can sell a kidney and pay to put him in private school.
The system is failing, and that is why.
