KEOKUK, IOWA -- One of the proposed cuts to deal with the deficit is in preschool education.
If those cuts are approved, some Iowa families may have to dig into their wallets to get children into public pre-schools.
Governor-elect Terry Branstad wants to expand preschool offerings in Iowa, and wants parents who do not meet income guidelines to pay for their children.
Keokuk Superintendent Dr. Lora Wolff says she's watching and waiting to see what will happen to preschool funding at the state level. She says that will most likely have an impact on the number of applications she'll see for preschool this year.
Wolff said, ""We have 24 students in our preschool program and we're a little uncertain as to how that's going to impact us. Is it really an expansion of services so we can serve more kids or is it going to limit services; we're not sure."
What is clear about the Governor-elect's plan right now is who would be paying for preschool. Income guidelines would follow those for the state's free and reduced lunch program. Those receiving reduced meals would pay on a sliding scale....with those who do not qualify for any help paying full price for preschool. That applies to around half of Keokuk's 24 preschool students. Wolff says more than half of those children's families would have to pay for all or a portion of preschool costs. Those who qualify for free lunches would still get preschool for free.
While the Governor-Elect says he's expanding preschool in Iowa, local lawmakers say its actually taking away opportunities to many students...especially in middle class families.
Do you think that will reduce the number of kids in preschool?
Iowa Rep. Jerry Kearns said, "Yes the problem is there are a lot of middle class families who really can't afford it. It's taking two incomes now to really make it. I think there may be middle income or lower income folks who won't be eligible for vouchers that could use the problem and the children can certainly use it."
Iowa Sen. Gene Fraise said, "In that two year-old to three year-old bracket - that's when their minds are soaking up information. That's the time when you can get all this good stuff in there so preschool is so important."
The cuts and costs won't hurt this year's pre-schoolers. But it may impact the families who apply for their children to attend preschool in Keokuk, when the application process begins in February.
Governor-Elect Terry Branstad says he supports preschool, but feels the state can't afford Governor Chet Culver's program that offers early classes to most 4-year-olds.
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