This is a story that aired on OETA Public Television's The Oklahoma News Report in Tulsa Oklahoma as reported by Cathy Tatom and photojournalist Edwin Wilson. For more information or to contact us, please go to the new and improved www.oeta.tv
The verbatim script follows below...
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS THE PROVEN KEY TO PREPARING CHILDREN FROM DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL. IN OKLAHOMA, MOST PROGRAMS PREPARE FOUR YEAR OLDS FOR KINDERGARTEN. BUT AS OETA'S CATHY TATOM REPORTS, SOON THERE WILL BE A FIRST OF ITS KIND MODEL PROGRAM TARGETING THREE YEAR OLDS. nats.... "Wake up, it's morning." AS SOON AS NEXT FALL SOME THREE YEAR OLDS COULD BE WAKING UP TO GO TO SCHOOL JUST LIKE THE FOUR YEAR OLDS IN THE PRE-K PROGRAM AT KENDALL-WHITTIER ELEMENTARY. THE THREE YEAR OLDS WOULD BE PART OF A MODEL PROGRAM FOR THE STATE TO BE SET UP IN TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Keith Ballard/Supt., TPS: "One of the keys to success is ensuring that every child gets off to a good start and unfortunately we have some kids coming out of some very disadvantaged backgrounds where they're really not nearly as prepared as other kids." GOVERNOR HENRY ANNOUNCED T-P-S WILL GET $15-MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY. IT'S TO MATCH WITH ITS OWN RESOURCES AND A $15-MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION. THE MONEY WILL ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO OPEN THREE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS SPECIFICALLY FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
Keith Ballard/Supt., TPS: "We're very appreciative of the fact that the Governor has recognized that Tulsa would be an ideal setting for three year old programs."
Judy Feary/Principal: "I tell ya it will mean all the difference in the world in academic performance for children and parent involvement throughout the whole school careers of children." JUDY FEARY IS THE PRINCIPAL AT KENDALL WHITTIER. IT'S IN ONE OF TULSA'S MOST ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED NEIGHBORHOODS. MORE THAN A DECADE AGO IT BEGAN AN AGGRESSIVE PRE-K PROGRAM FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AFTER DISCOVERING MANY STUDENTS ARRIVED UNPREPARED TO START SCHOOL AS KINDERGARTENERS.
Judy Feary/Principal: "Years ago we had them coming to us developmentally between 18 months old and two and a half years old in kindergarten and those children struggled throughout their entire career to catch up and because we were able to add the four year old program now they're coming and they're ready for kindergarten." FEARY SAYS SUCCESSFUL EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS OFTEN HAVE TO CONVINCE PARENTS TO LET THEIR CHILDREN PARTICIPATE.
"We have had to work with them to understand that we're a partner, that we're not trying to take over their role, that we just want to work with them." SO THEIR CHILDREN WON'T HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO CATCH UP AND KEEP UP IN SCHOOL. SHE ADDS HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS DON'T JUST PREPARE CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN. IT IMPACTS ALL GRADE LEVELS.
Judy Feary/Principal: "That means that teachers are going to have to readjust what they're teaching because sometimes they teach maybe down a year or grade level because the children aren't ready, but now they'll be teaching on grade level and above." BUT IT HAS THE MOST IMPACT ON STUDENTS.
Judy Feary/Principal: "It'll make sure that more of those students are successful, more of 'em are going to graduate, and more of 'em are going to go to college." AND THAT HELPS BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY SO MANY CHILDREN ENROLLED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE BORN INTO. AT KENDALL-WHITTIER ELEMENTARY, I'M CATHY TATOM, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.
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