Posted on: Friday, February 15, 2002

Island Voices
Pre-Plus gives our children a chance

By Mazie K. Hirono
Hawai'i's lieutenant governor

One of the best ways to fix Hawai'i's school system and ensure our young people get the quality education they need to successfully compete in today's global economy is to start at the very beginning — with quality preschool programs.

Countless studies clearly demonstrate children who do not have the advantage of a preschool experience are at a disadvantage when they enter kindergarten.

This month our office launched Pre-Plus, an innovative program that moves us even closer to providing universal access to preschool without impacting the general fund. Using a creative partnership of federal, private and other monies, we plan to provide more 3- and 4-year-old children with preschool opportunities.

Preference will be given to children whose families are at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty index.

Pre-Plus marks an exciting new era in the state's delivery of early childhood education to our keiki. The program gives our disadvantaged children access to preschool by creating an innovative partnership between the state of Hawai'i and the Good Beginnings Alliance, Kamehameha Schools, Head Start and other community programs.

The state will build the new preschool facilities and learning-friendly playgrounds on 13 elementary public school campuses across the state. Qualified preschool education specialists will teach the children the skills they need to successfully enter kindergarten.

With Pre-Plus, learning happens not just inside the classroom, but on the outside, too. Specially designed playgrounds will allow Hawai'i's preschoolers to continue to learn outside of the classroom. A tricycle path, quiet area and special landscaping all help create an environment that allows preschoolers to explore and learn.

Pre-Plus combines the best of the public and private sector to deliver high-quality preschool to a wider range of Hawai'i's population. Without this program, disadvantaged children have, in the past, simply entered kindergarten a step behind their peers. Pre-Plus corrects that inequality.

Times are tight, and money is scarce, but the most important resource in any system is the human resource. That's the most important resource in any community, too. With Pre-Plus, we have taken a further step toward strengthening our schools.