FRANKFORT, Ky. — Early childhood education continues to be a major talking point among lawmakers. Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., has been vocal about establishing universal pre-K statewide; Republicans believe more investment is needed but believe universal pre-K isn’t feasible.

What You Need To Know

  • State Senator Danny Carroll introduced the Horizon Act aimed at helping address Kentucky's lack of pre-K education 

  • The bill asks for $300 million in the state's budget; $150 million annually 

  • Carroll's Horizon Act would establish funds to expand pre-K access to families and financially support education centers 

  • KCTCS would offer an associate degree in interdisciplinary early childhood education entrepreneurship.

State Senator Danny Carroll, R-Benton, said it’s time to overhaul how the state invests and views early childhood education. On Tuesday, Feb. 12, he introduced his Horizon Act, which requests $300 million in the state’s budget or $150 million for each year to address a lack of pre-K education in the state.

Jennifer Washburn was one of many supporters that attended a news conference Tuesday. Washburn owns and operates iKids Childhood Enrichment Center in Benton. She said many early education centers must make tough decisions amid tightening budget as CARES Act and other COVID-19 funds are drying up.

“Cut teacher pay, raise parent tuition or quite frankly close altogether,” Washburn said.

Senator Carroll’s bill would create numerous funds aimed at expanding access to more families and assistance to providers for educational materials, rent and raising staff wages. Washburn said many of her staff start while in high school to earn scholarship money.

“They’re starting out brand new and as they stay with me through the scholarship programs; they’re earning an associate's degree and then they’re going on and earning a bachelor’s degree. As they’re growing, they’re outgrowing my pay scale,” Washburn said.

According to census bureau data provided during the news conference, states 63,000 non-working Kentucky adults cited caring for children not in school or child care as a main reason for not working.

“Consistent child care makes employees 30% more likely to attend work every day,” said Sarah Vanover, policy director for Kentucky Youth Advocates.

Vanover has been in early childhood education for over 25 years. She said numerous studies show learning begins at birth and getting a child in high-quality pre-K education has long-term success at the K-12 level.

“I can sit down with a three- or four-year-old and show them a picture of what a capital A is and say remember that. But if I can teach them how to think through problems, how to use their vocabulary, how to problem solve and we’re going to see that easily through elementary school when we hit those third and fourth-grade markers for reading and math, but beyond that as well,” Vanover said.

The Horizon Act would also require Kentucky Community and Technical Colleges to offer an associate’s degree program in interdisciplinary early childhood education entrepreneurship. Sen. Carroll said it would teach working with kids, regulations and finances of running a child care center.

“What we want to see in this degree is students go in and come out with the ability to open up their own center,” Carroll said.

Gov. Beshear and many Democrats have advocated for universal pre-K. Sen. Carroll said he and others are open to universal pre-k but disagree with Beshear’s delivery model.

“I think that proposal is a political statement not based on reality,” Carroll said. “We want everybody to have that and that’s why we’re reaching out to create new models and within the existing models and what we hope to grow in the future to move this state in that direction through all delivery models, including public.”

The Horizon Act would also allow the state to gather data on early childhood enrollment, facilities and staff. The Bill will also add early childhood education as an eligible program for Kentucky’s work ready scholarship.

 

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