Study shows economic, educational benefits of universal preschool plan

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Monday, December 19, 2005

Study shows economic, educational benefits of universal preschool plan

By: BRENDA DURAN - Staff Writer
North (San Diego) County Times

If all 4-year-olds in San Diego County went to preschool it would mean 700 fewer high school dropouts each year, 2,200 fewer juvenile criminal charges and 4,569 fewer children in special education, according to a report released last week by the RAND Corp.

The report follows a recent decision by the county's First 5 Commission to start universal preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds in six county school districts by 2010 and maintain them for five years. In North County, the only school district that will be served is the Escondido elementary district. The First 5 Commission, which oversees money generated by a 50 cents per pack tobacco tax approved by state voters in 1998, has set aside $30 million for the five-year program.

The Preschool For All Act, which would create a statewide universal preschool program, will be considered by voters in June. If passed, the adjusted income of the top 0.6 wealthiest Californians will be taxed 1.7 percent to ensure funding for the statewide program, according to the ballot initiative. The tax would ensure $2.3 billion per year to pay for the program.

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Opponents like Lisa Snell, director of education policy at Reason Foundation, a non-profit think tank organization, said the study is not only nebulous about its future social and economic promises but is also giving preschool advocates vague and inconsistent data which underestimates the actual cost of implementing the program.

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Snell cites her research in a Quebec universal preschool program as an example for her opposition. In 1997, Quebec preschool advocates claimed the benefits of an investment in a universal Preschool for All program would outweigh the costs. The program was estimated to cost $230 million over five years, but after eight years is costing tax payers $1.7 billion annually, said Snell.

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http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/12/19/news/top_stories/121805192817.txt

Contact Staff Writer Brenda Duran at [phone] or [e-mail].