FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: SPEAKER GARD 608-266-2402
May 22, 2006
SPEAKER GARD ANNOUNCES 4-K TASK FORCE
(Madison, WI)…Assembly Speaker John Gard (R-Peshtigo) has announced the
creation of a Task Force to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of 4-K programs funded by
the state. The Task Force, which is being formed at the request of Education Committee Chair
Rep. Debi Towns (R-Janesville), will analyze the educational and societal impact of 4-K
programs and will address state funding of these programs.
“The 4-K Task Force will be in charge of examining 4-K programs and will look at
future funding needs so that taxpayers may be assured that education dollars are being spent
effectively,” said Gard. “I commend Rep. Towns for taking the lead on exploring
improvements to our educational system, starting at the earliest levels.”
Currently, the state is investing close to $53.6 million of public funds to maintain half
day programs for 4-year-olds in 162 public school districts. Trends indicate that participation
in 4-year-old kindergarten is rising at a rapid pace and as a result, the state’s financial
commitment could grow exponentially. With K-12 funding making up nearly half of the
biennial state budget, Rep. Towns asked for the creation of the task force so that legislators
can assess whether improvements should be made and determine the future direction of 4-K.
“As committee chair, I believe that taxpayers should expect that we have the best
public education system in place,” said Towns. “The task force will evaluate the merits of 4-K
programs and consider changes to their structure. The information will allow us to make
better decisions when looking at the overall picture for public education funding.”
The Task Force will provide the Legislature with its findings. The following members
have been named to serve on it: State Rep. Steve Kestell, R-Elkhart Lake; State Rep. Leah
Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa; State Rep. Barbara Toles, D-Milwaukee; State Rep. Amy Sue
Vruwink, D-Milladore; Connie Roberts, executive director of the Wisconsin Head Start
Association in Rock and Walworth counties; Laura Klingelhoets, a daycare owner and board
member of the Wisconsin Child Care Administrators Association; Brett Healy, research
director for School Choice Wisconsin; and Rick Grobschmidt of the state Department of
Public Instruction.
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4K is the most absolute waste of money that can be spent for the education system. 4K is nothing more than free daycare. they will try to sell you on all these facts about crime rate, act scores and it is all garbage. i am glad to see the republicans look into this program and hopefully they see the garbage that it really is
ReplyDelete4K may be one of the most positive things we can do for our children and for our business community. Teaching children how to learn and developing those skills early will make them more productive and better citizens in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI'm just worried that Gard has just come from a convention where they vowed to choke off this valuable program, that he is grandstanding in advance of his next election and that one of the most active voices of for-profit schools will be on this so-called task force.
DPI just returned an evaluation of this program. What is Gard's motive for assembling this group?
Once upon a time kindergarten was meant as the leveling and prepping time for children entering the school system. It was not obligatory. If the child was prepared for 1st grade, they could wait to begin their schooling.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of 4K seems to be the replacement for Kindergarten. Or is it the replacing of families and parenting? Strong families and good parenting also create productive, better citizens.
you completely missed the business aspect grumps. ask our local daycares in town how they will cope losing whole classrooms of children (business) when this 4K goes through. i am one with a 3 year old and my feelings are parents should be able to teach their own kids how to read, count and all the other basic aspects of what a 4 year old should be doing. it is turning into what you do to a hunting dog take them at birth and train them immedieatly.
ReplyDeletewe were told at a meeting that 4k promotes lower crime rate which now for juvenials is at a all time high, that act scores will be 5 points higher which if you look at iowa and montana which do not sponser 4k programs they essentially score the same as WI and places that do sponser 4k also score near the bottom. let parents be parents and kids be kids take the money at a early age and make more programs for high schoolers like DECA, FFA and the like