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WMass hails Patrick plan
The Republican, June 2, 2007

Gov. Deval L. Patrick's plan to dramatically broaden free public education to include preschool and two years of community college was hailed in Western Massachusetts yesterday, despite questions about how to fund the ambitious proposal.

"I'm very pleased and delighted that he embraces this philosophy and concept," said Springfield Day Nursery President Joan B. Kagan, who serves on the Early Education For All advisory committee, which has lobbied since 2000 for universal prekindergarten. Such efforts have generally focused on children ages 3 to 5, their great learning capacity, and the benefit of early intervention for those in need.

Patrick also outlined plans for extending both the school day and year for K-12 students, along with providing two years' free community college or vocational training for high school graduates. Practical details were unclear, and questions remain about the legislative steps and support necessary to bring the proposal to fruition.

Nonetheless, the presidents of Holyoke Community, Greenfield Community and Springfield Technical Community colleges applauded the initiative, which they characterized as the most sweeping since establishment of their college system in the 1960s.

"At the community college level, I haven't seen anything more dramatic than this," said Springfield Technical Community College President Ira H. Rubenzahl.

Rubenzahl and others said the move underscores the expanding role played by two-year colleges in turning out workers for state economy.

"The truth ... is that an associate's degree is the new standard for a quality life and entry into quality employment in the work force," said Greenfield Community College President Robert L. Pura. "We're delighted the governor has brought this forward."

Patrick's plan also calls for full-day kindergarten in all school districts, strengthening the curriculum for high schools, and improving teacher certification, licensing and professional development.

Springfield Superintendent Joseph P. Burke said he is "very supportive" of the proposal's three major goals, universal prekindergarten, extending the school calendar and free community college.

The school calendar, which is still built around the long-ago need for children to help with warm-weather planting and harvest, no longer suffices for a model educational system, Patrick said. Students need more time to develop academic skills and participate in art, music and athletics, he said, adding that teachers require more hours to collaborate on instruction plans. Meanwhile, it is "essential that we lessen the amount of time that children are left unattended after school," Patrick said.

Springfield Education Association President Timothy T. Collins said he doesn't believe extension of the school day is necessary for all students, and the state could be better served by putting resources into reducing class sizes in grades K-3. Collins said studies show that children in classrooms of 15 or less fare much better, and such a measure could help close the achievement gap.

As far as universal prekindergarten is concerned, Patrick cited a growing body of research showing that children who attend preschool are less likely to repeat grades or require public services later, and are more likely to attend college.

A fall 2006 report by Early Education for All estimated that beyond existing public subsidies, it would cost $600 million a year, or about $3,000 per child, to make high-quality free early education available statewide. The estimate includes at least one college-educated specially trained teacher per classroom, plus child health and dental screenings.

The report was based on findings by Northeastern University's Center for Labor Market Studies, where Associate Director Paul A. Harrington said plans to standardize and professionalize early childhood education would involve both public and private providers. Head Start facilities and private agencies could "opt-in" to a state program, Harrington said, and receive additional funds while adopting state standards. If the Legislature can't fully fund the initiative, he said, it would make sense to provide free prekindergarten in bigger cities, including Springfield.

An effort to establish free prekindergarten in Springfield is already under way, with the help of a coalition including the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation's Cherish Every Child initiative.

"We're trying to figure out how we could make this happen in Springfield ... we're really excited," project director Sally C. Fuller said yesterday.

Early childhood education is an economic development tool, according to report Kagan provided yesterday. Similarly, Holyoke Community College President William F. Messier said that historically, Massachusetts' economic strength has been its labor force, rather than natural resources or low cost of doing business.

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