The state's Pre-Plus program for needy children is slated to begin in the coming school year, and some preschools are worried the competition will hurt schools already struggling to fill classrooms.
Private preschools worry
a state program could be
bad for businessBy Lisa Asato
lasato@starbulletin.com"The state has said it's not to compete with private preschools, but they will because there are two sites just in our area, (adding a total of) 40 spaces," said Dolores Brockman, director of St. Timothy's Children's Center in Aiea. "Their tuition is going to be next to nothing. Now, is that not competing?"
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The school was forced to close a classroom in 2000 because of declining enrollment, she said, adding, "We are already down 20 spaces. ... If we close another classroom, we won't be able to stay open."But Monica Kaui, Pre-Plus coordinator with the Lieutenant Governor's Office, said there is room for both programs because Pre-Plus targets children whose families can't afford preschool even with the help of state and federal subsidies.
The state plans to open its first preschools for low-income students in the 2002-2003 school year at 10 sites on Oahu, one on Maui and two on the Big Island. Construction begins this month.
Pre-Plus aims to provide universal access to early education for 8,000 needy 3- and 4-year-olds. It gives preference to children whose families are at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Index. In Hawaii, that means a family of three would qualify if its annual gross income does not exceed $34,560, according to the latest figures given by the state Department of Human Services.
"We're targeting the lowest of the low-income families," Kaui said.
"The preschools can say 'You're going to take away some of our kids,' (but) these kids wouldn't come anyway because tuition is so high," she said. "They can get subsidies but parents still have a big out-of-pocket expense. Even if it is $25 (a month), $25 is a lot for a person on a fixed income."
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Brockman said even if the state targets the neediest children, she would still be affected."I have a family who has zero income; I have another family who works part time," she said. "Yes, they are targeting the neediest and the neediest are coming to our schools."
Kaui said more than 75 percent of the 260 students enrolled in the first 13 schools will be attending school for free, based on the number of slots required for those meeting eligibility requirements. The cost of attending the preschools depends on individual providers, including Head Start, Kamaaina Kids, and Parents and Children Together.
"(The program) makes sense because we're using school grounds, which helps to subsidize the effort, the government is putting up the facilities ... and it makes it easier for little children to get a good-quality education," said Garry Kemp, an assistant administrator in the Department of Human Services division that handles early education subsidies. "It seems to me there should be enough (children) to go around for all the schools."
Still, preschool officials are waiting to see what happens.
Christina Cox, president of KCAA Pre-Schools of Hawaii, said the Pre-Plus sites will be able to accept paying clients to fill seats, so the "real trend we need to be watchful of is whether or not our middle-income families actually choose to move to Pre-Plus organizations for reasons other than costs."
Cox, who was on the Pre-Plus planning committee, said if Pre-Plus achieves its goal of providing preschool to those who can't afford it, then it's a good thing. But, she said, KCAA is "being watchful and hoping it will not negatively impact our facilities."
"The design is good, the intent is good," she said. "We don't know what the outcome is actually going to be. People need to wait before they go into a deep panic."
But at Rainbow Schools in Wahiawa, where a Pre-Plus program is opening one street away at Kaala Elementary School, center director Cynthia Barley is worried the proximity of the program may jeopardize her school, where about 75 percent of its clientele qualify for some type of financial assistance.
"I'm going to have to be a little more aggressive as far as advertising is concerned (and) going out into the community and networking," Barley said. "All I have to offer is a quality education for early childhood and spread the word about our school."
The Pre-Plus sites were chosen based on the interest of the school principal, interest of providers, feasibility to build at the site and vacancies of surrounding preschools, said Kaui, the Pre-Plus coordinator.
Kaui acknowledged that the planners were not aware that when some preschools reported having two or three vacancies it was also coupled with having to close classrooms.
"After we selected the sites, the providers came back and said, 'I had three vacancies and I also had to close a classroom,'" she said. "The questions weren't asked, and they didn't tell us. It was an error on both parts."
Kristin Darling of the Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children said the schools had a valid concern but the impact is unknown. She said preschool providers can share their concerns with the association by calling 942-4708.
>> As of Dec. 31, 2001, there were 15,332 children ages 2 to 5 enrolled in about 375 preschools statewide. That's nearly 92 percent of the statewide capacity of 16,738. Enrollment
Source: People Attentive to Children
>> Last year, 3,268 children received preschool subsidies in the state. Preschool subsidies
>> Monthly rates for preschools in town range from about $400 to $600. Monthly subsidies for a child given through the state Department of Human Services are up to $375 for licensed preschools and up to $400 for licensed and accredited preschools.
>> Human Services plans to consider next month increasing the subsidies, effective in May.
Source: Garry Kemp, assistant administrator with the Benefit Employment and Support Services Division of the state Department of Human Services
