Support early education bill

 Now is the time to support Governor Steve Bullock’s Early Edge initiative for public, universally available pre-kindergarten. 

While a great number of Montana’s students are excelling, thanks to our high-quality public schools, a frightening achievement gap remains. Too many of our students cannot keep up in school simply because they started their education without a strong foundation. Numerous studies show pre-K is tied to higher test scores and graduation rates and decreases in drug abuse and other criminal activity.  The more kids who show up at kindergarten ready to learn on day one, the better teachers can prepare them for successful educational and professional careers in the future. 

Early Edge gives Montana the opportunity to address this gap sitting right in front of us. Montana is one of only six states without publicly funded early education. 

These benefits would not simply be limited to our urban school districts; students in rural districts will benefit as well. Because Early Edge puts control in the hands of local school districts, we will have the opportunity to decide exactly how to implement this initiative in a way that fits with and expands our already existing programs, and it allows us to develop new and innovative ways to reach out to our kids. 

With our current graduation rate at 85 percent, Montana is doing well, but with Early Edge, we can do even better. Concern about Early Edge funding lies in where the money is going when there are other issues at hand, such as hiring more teachers into our school systems. Let us be very clear: the Governor is proposing Early Edge funding in addition to the historic investments that were already made last legislative session thanks to SB 175. Schools across the state are receiving funding through SB 175, and Early Edge is certainly not an either/or proposition. 

If we are serious about investing in the future of our state, Early Edge needs to be a priority. Montana’s students need to be shown they are a priority, and schools need resources if more students are going to be successful from preschool all the way through to when they join Montana’s job market. 

—Doug Ardiana, Superintendent, Bonner School District, Laurie Barron, Superintendent, Evergreen School District, Dennis Gerke, Superintendent, Hardin School District, Brad Moore, Superintendent, Big Sandy School District, Joby Parker, Superintendent, Rosebud County School District, Jule Walker, Superintendent, Plevna School District