Senate's cuts put too much burden on kids
Lansing State Journal, July 23, 2009
Tony Fragale, President, Lansing YMCA
Excerpt: Parents in the Lansing area and throughout the state should be alarmed about the Michigan Senate's plan to eradicate $103 million for pre-kindergarten programs that serve 30,471 of Michigan's most vulnerable children.
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090723/OPINION02/907230328/1087/OPINION02
State needs to support early childhood programs
Oakland Press editorial, July 21, 2009
Deb Cherry, State Senator
Excerpt: “Academic research, staring-us-in-the-face evidence and just plain common sense show you can’t lose by investing in the first five years of life, when 85 percent of brain development happens. Our economic competitors figured that out decades ago. To its credit, the state responded to this crisis in 2005, forming the Early Childhood Investment Corp. (ECIC) and identifying early childhood as a strategic investment. ECIC has helped launch 55 Great Start Collaboratives statewide, each composed of local parents, business leaders and others. These collaboratives are charged with coordinating and improving programs for local children from birth to age 5.”
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2009/07/19/opinion/doc4a60c366ab920337818438.txt
Let's See if Jackson County's Kids are Prepared
Jackson Citizen-Patriot editorial, July 15, 2009
Excerpt: “The Jackson County Intermediate School District, Community Action Agency and Great Start Collaborative rounded up some 1,800 kindergarten students last fall and measured the basics. How well did these youngsters know their letters? Could they identify rhymes? The role of early education should not be overlooked. If children get a running start even before they reach their first elementary school classroom, they will be poised to do well for years to come. Finding out just how much this community's kindergartners do know is just one step, but it should help the early-childhood push considerably. The community should welcome that, not just now but for years to come.”
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/2009/07/lets_see_if_jackson_countys_ki.html
Saginaw County newborns get a better start in life, but there's room for improvement
Saginaw News editorial, July 12, 2009
Excerpt: “The lot of newborns in Michigan has improved a great deal in the past 15 years. But, as the study shows, there's more work to be done, particularly in reversing the trend in low birth-weight babies. We expect to hear much more about this report and others as state leaders in Lansing roll up their sleeves this summer to tackle an enormous projected budget deficit that may be close to $2 billion. That's one-quarter of the state's $8 billion general fund, where most budget cuts occur. These numbers ought to say to our elected leaders at least this: When budget cuts come, leave the kids alone. They are Michigan's future, and they need the right start.”
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/saginaw/index.ssf/2009/07/saginaw_county_newborns_get_a.html
“Budget cuts wrongly take aim at youngsters”
Jackson Citizen-Patriot letter to the editor, July 11, 2009
Excerpt: Everyone knows that state lawmakers have to make massive cuts to the budget this summer. What I don't understand is why such a disproportionately large number of those cuts have come from early-childhood programs like pre-kindergarten, child care and the like.
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/2009/07/budget_cuts_wrongly_take_aim_a.html