Does Ohio Need to Expand Public Preschool?
By Beth Lear, posted May 15, 2007 Across Ohio, community centers, churches and synagogues, private schools and in-home providers ably deliver preschool services to tens of thousands of children a year. However, a policy change written into Governor Ted Strickland’s proposed budget and passed by the Ohio House threatens to destroy Ohio’s successful system of free market-oriented and community-based preschool programs. The governor’s plan looks to marginalize these community-based providers with the muscle and tax resources of Ohio’s government schools. The proposed policy change is now before the Ohio Senate. Currently, the law limits the number of public preschools throughout the state. School districts must demonstrate that preschool programs are not already provided by existing community-based organizations. The district must also be eligible for poverty-based assistance. However, the governor proposes eliminating the “lack of alternatives” requirement, leaving only the subjective re
