Georgia Lawmakers Advocate for Increased Funding to Strengthen State’s Pre-K Program
Georgia lawmakers are making a push to enhance the state’s prekindergarten program, recognizing its crucial role in education and as an economic driver that allows parents to work with ease.
Facing years of stagnant funding that has hindered teacher recruitment and retention, Republican House Speaker Jon Burns and Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones are proposing to allocate additional funds to both public and private pre-K providers. They are seeking approximately $100 million more from the Georgia Lottery, which has recorded high collections and reserves.
Governor Brian Kemp is in alignment with Burns and Jones and has already taken steps to implement their leading recommendation. In his budget, Kemp has included an extra $11 million to reduce class sizes to 20 students per teacher, reverting back to the ratio that was in place over a decade ago. Currently, pre-K classes have an average of 22 students per teacher, exceeding the average size of kindergarten classes. This ratio was established during budget cuts in the aftermath of the Great Recession.
The current pre-K budget, after amendments, stands at $460 million. However, Kemp’s proposed budget, inclusive of certain salary increases, would expand the funding to $490 million in fiscal year 2025, starting in July.
Jones revealed that she consulted with the governor’s staff regarding the House proposal. Georgia currently funds 84,000 pre-K slots, but only slightly over 73,000 of them are being utilized due to a shortage caused by rising costs, including staff expenses.
Jones highlighted the challenges faced by the pre-K sector, stating, An assistant teacher today earns $20,000. She or he could make more working full time at Target. Burns and Jones aim to raise the minimum pay for these assistant teachers to $25,700, equivalent to the base amount earned by K-12 paraprofessionals.
With just over 3,800 pre-K classrooms in Georgia, approximately 51% are in public schools, while the rest are in private child care facilities. The lottery currently provides $5,284 for each pre-K slot.
Jones, who chaired a study committee on the matter, proposed increasing the startup stipend for materials and furnishings. This allocation has remained at $8,000 for three decades. The committee also recommended assistance for both private and public pre-K construction costs.
Pre-K education is increasingly recognized as an essential preparatory step before children enter kindergarten. Although kindergarten is not mandatory in Georgia, efforts to mandate it are underway through Senate Bill 241. Lawmakers who championed a comprehensive mandate on literacy instruction last year consistently emphasized the significance of early learning.
Donna Davidson, the president and CEO of Easter Seals of North Georgia, a leading pre-K provider, addressed the mounting staffing challenges despite offering benefits such as healthcare, vacation pay, and 18% pay raises. Davidson’s organization has partnered with college campuses to recruit staff, yet they still struggle to fill approximately 50% of their positions with substitute teachers lacking the required credentials. She stressed the broad impact on the well-being and long-term education of children.
While Georgia aims to strengthen early education, the federal government is scaling back in this area. During the pandemic, preschools across the country benefited from substantial federal funding distributions. However, these funds have been exhausted, leading to a looming crisis referred to by industry leaders as a fiscal cliff. Georgia’s child care centers currently rely on the last $1.3 billion in federal subsidies, with advocates warning that the expiration of these funds could result in numerous closures.
Polly McKinney, the advocacy director of Voices for Georgia’s Children, acknowledged the pandemic’s silver lining, stating, One silver lining of the pandemic is that it showed how important it is to pay a living wage to child-serving professions to ensure the stability and well-being of our kids.
As state leaders rally to reinforce Georgia’s pre-K program, their efforts coincide with the federal government’s departure from this role. It is crucial for Georgia to secure adequate funding and support to sustain and expand its pre-K offerings, ensuring children receive a strong foundation for their educational journey.
