Maine Lawmaker Proposes Creating Unified Early Education System

Not that the service and support aren’t out there: The Maine Headstart Program offers early childhood development services to low-income families. But Alfond says the problem is that those services are often underused. For example, he says more than 68 percent of children eligible for Headstart are not enrolled, and as a result, many are not ready when they enter public education.

The bill’s proponents say the lack of a unified system is to blame for this situation. And while Alfond says existing childhood early education initiatives have made many gains over the years, they still don’t represent a true system. Instead, he says they are more of a confusing plethora of different programs.

“These numerous programs are scattered amongst the Department of Health and Human Services, Headstart, Childhood Development Services and public pre-K,” Alfond said. “Some of the early childhood programs are funded directly by federal dollars, others are funded by a mix of federal, state and local funds, and many of the programs rely on Medicaid reimbursement for various services.”

Also speaking in favor of the bill was Meredith Strang-Burgess, a Republican representative from Cumberland. Despite some improvements in recent years, she still characterizes the existing world of early childhood education as one of turf battles, duplication of effort, and excessive paperwork.

She says the result is that too many kids need extra help when they arrive at kindergarden. “Remember, we all have to learn to read, and then we read to learn, and if we can’t get these kids ready to enter that school system, we will just perpetuate the differences.”

“LD 568, if passed, would spare other parents the pain and energy that we continue to expend upon a system that does not work,” said Cindy McDonald of Dover Foxcroft. McDonald is the mother of two boys with autism. She says caring for their pre-school needs has involved countless hours of paperwork for a variety of different agencies just to ensure her sons get basic care.

“The idea of having one department to oversee all aspects of care for my children, as well as for all children, typically developing and with special needs, is a godsend,” McDonald said.

No one spoke against LD 568, but a few spoke neither for nor against the measure. Among them, Lori Whittemore of Child Development Services, a state agency overseen by the Education Department that’s intended to provide help and educational assistance to children under five.

While she supports the aim of a unified system, Whittemore said she’s concerned about the bill’s intent. “I’m voting today neither for nor against because I don’t feel like there’s a plan to vote on,” she said. “The bill’s very vague and it contains no real plan to reach the goal of creating a unified system. Key stakeholders, such as superintendents who oversee four-year-old programs, were excluded from the process.”

Her voice cracking with emotion, Whittemore said she can personally sympathize with what parents like Cindy McDonald are going through.

“I have a son with autism, I have two children with learning disabilities, I know what it’s like to be that mom right there and to be terrified that my child is not going have his needs met,” she said, fighting back tears. “That’s why I go to work every day, that’s why I’m standing here as a lone member, very concerned about the real intent of this bill.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Alfond urged the committee to put the bill on a so-called “emergency track” so it could be passed by the end of the year, and implemented at the start of 2012.