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Friday, April 11, 2008
Finding a spot in pre-K
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There are a couple of spring rituals you expect in Georgia. There’s the yellow blanket of pollen everywhere. There’s the lighter traffic during spring break. And there’s the mad dash to register for the state’s free pre-kindergarten program.
These pre-k classes are funded by the Georgia Lottery. During the 2006-07 school year the state spent more than $300 million to provide more than 75,000 children with pre-k, according to Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.
The classes are open to all 4-year-olds, regardless of their parents’ income. The program is extremely popular, with demand often exceeding available space.
Some school systems hold lotteries to fill their open seats. Others don’t. I’ve heard of parents camping out in front of some programs four days before registration to guarantee a spot for their child.
Few could blame parents for going all out to help their children. But what about parents who can’t go to those extremes? I don’t know of many low-income parents who can afford to take four days off from work to stand in a line to get their kid into a good program.
How far would you go to get a spot for your child in a free pre-k program?
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