|
State Profiles
Kentucky
The Kentucky Preschool Program was created as one component of the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990 (HB 940) to provide a high-quality pre-k program to the state's most vulnerable children. Tight fiscal circumstances prevented an expansion of the program for over a decade, but recent gubernatorial and legislative leadership have provided an impetus for growth; the past two legislative sessions have seen a combined funding increase of more than $30 million dollars. The program is currently offered in every school district in the state and serves 84 percent of eligible children.
Key Milestones
| 1990 |
|
The Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990 is passed and creates the Kentucky Preschool Program. The program is targeted to four year olds at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty threshold and three- and four-year-old children with special needs. |
| |
|
|
| 1999 |
|
Governor Paul Patton creates the Office of Early Childhood Development and places it under executive control. Additionally, Gov. Patten appoints the Governor's Early Childhood Task Force to develop a long-term early childhood strategy that will meet the needs of Kentucky's children and prepare them for success throughout their lives. |
| |
|
|
| 2000 |
|
In response to recommendations from the Early Childhood Task Force, Kentucky launches KIDS (Kentucky Invests in Developing Success) NOW, a comprehensive early childhood initiative focused on improving maternal and child health, supporting families with young children, and enhancing early care and education programs. STARS for KIDS NOW, Kentucky's childcare rating system, is included in this initiative. |
| |
|
|
| 2004 |
|
A new Division of Early Childhood Development is created within the Kentucky Department of Education. This division takes the place of the governor's Office of Early Childhood Development and provides a unified administrative body for the Kentucky Preschool Program, KIDS NOW, and the Head Start Collaboration Office. |
| |
|
|
| 2005 |
|
Kentucky Preschool Program regulations are amended and require all new pre-k teachers to hold a bachelor's degree plus the Kentucky early childhood teaching certificate.
Funding for the Kentucky Preschool Program is increased by $6.8 million. |
| |
|
|
| 2006 |
|
The Kentucky Preschool Program continues expanding, with a new appropriation of $23.5 million in each year of the biennium (FY07 and 08) to cover all children at 150 percent of the federal poverty threshold. |
Pre-K Champions
The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, an organization devoted to education reform, is taking the lead on pre-k advocacy in Kentucky by mobilizing parents, business leaders, educators, and other key stakeholders in the effort to make voluntary, high-quality pre-k available to all three- and four-year-old children in the state.
Additionally, strong gubernatorial leadership has fostered the continued growth of the Kentucky Preschool Program, beginning with Governor Patton's task force in 1999 and continuing with Governor Ernie Fletcher's recent appropriations and eligibility expansions.
Next steps for Kentucky
As the next step towards pre-k for all in Kentucky, advocates will develop a status report on pre-k in the state and will create a coalition to focus on areas of greatest need. These could include raising quality standards, promoting community-based pre-k programs, and increasing income eligibility from 150 percent to 200 percent of the federal poverty threshold.
|
Print this page | 
Email this page
Research Reports
