Standing up for kindergarten

At last: state funding for full-time kindergarten!

MEA-MFT member Noreen Burris of Billings wrote to MEA-MFT in May 2007, after the legislature passed funding for full-time kindergarten, saying, “Our son will start kindergarten in the fall. I am so proud and excited that my son will be in the first group of Montana children to benefit from this hard-fought battle.

“Thank-you to all of you at MEA-MFT who worked tirelessly for my son and the thousands of other children who will receive this educational jump start.”

It was a hard-fought battle indeed. Right-wing extremists in the state legislature tried to kill full-time kindergarten funding right up to the bitter end. But common sense prevailed, and the majority of legislators approved $28 million in state funding for full-time kindergarten, along with $10 million in start-up funding.

In the midst of the fray, Stand Up For Education, the coalition created by MEA-MFT, sponsored a series of statewide radio and newspaper ads to inform Montanans about the benefits of full-time kindergarten.

“If we can help our kids be more prepared for school, why wouldn’t we?” That was the message of Helena mother and MEA-MFT member Christy Hughes in one of the radio ads.

The other ad featured MEA-MFT member and full-time kindergarten teacher Verna Copeland of Great Falls.

“In a full day of kindergarten, I can help kids one-on-one. That makes a big difference,” she said. “My students are much more confident and happy when they start first grade.”

The radio ads were accompanied by a newspaper ad that ran across the state.

“We never gave up on full-time kindergarten,” said MEA-MFT President Eric Feaver. “It represents the peak of best practices in education. It gives all children a better chance for success in school and in life.”

Many school districts are losing no time in using the new state funding, including Billings.