EARLY CARE, LEARNING INITIATIVE ANNOUNCED

Parents need more choices when it comes to early childhood care and education, says Tonya Merritt, a local, early childhood educator.

Providing options at a cost that parents can afford is the goal of an Early Childhood Care and Education Initiative announced Friday by Gov. Mel Carnahan.

The initiative includes legislative changes as well as $56 million in budget recommendations for fiscal 1999. Among key changes is a change in state law concerning riverboat entrance fees. The change would ensure that no less than 80 percent of the fees be used for school-linked early education programs.

The proposal, based on recommendations from the Governor's Commission on Early Childhood Care and Education, will be part of Carnahan's proposed $15.4 billion budget, which will be presented Wednesday in his State of the State address to lawmakers.

Carnahan said his program is designed to ensure all Missouri children enter school ready to learn.

"We actually went a step further than preparing children for kindergarten," Merritt said. "We were looking for a large variety of parental choices, but we wanted quality choices and a way to keep the choice with the parent."

Merritt served on the governor's commission.

In addition, the proposal, which focuses on grant funding, keeps decisions about child care local, she said.

Carnahan said: "I am proposing legislation that would establish a grant program that encourages public schools to establish quality child care for preschool children once they reach the age of 3. Schools will be able to offer these services on-site, at leased space, or by contracting with another child-care facility."

The proposal also includes additional money to increase the number of low-income children in subsidized child care.

Cape Girardeau schools superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent agreed that additional support and attention is needed for early childhood education in Missouri. Tallent and Merritt attended a national conference on early brain development in November in Kansas City. Research shows that educators have opportunities to encourage brain development in young children that never again occurs past childhood.

Merritt said the national conference mirrored discussions of the Missouri commission.

Tallent said: "As a society we're going to have to spend some money and provide some adequate opportunities for kids from birth to the age they begin school. The need is there, and if I had the money I would be glad to do it."

But, he said, the Cape Girardeau public schools' budget doesn't have extras for adding early childhood programs."

"We are willing to spend $25,000 a year to put someone in jail," Tallent said. "We may want to spend a considerable amount of money for youngsters we can affect positively."

Merritt agreed that funding will be a prime consideration. "This is something we will have to work together to see that it happens," she said. "We will need to bring together state funds, federal funds and community support to make this happen."

The governor's 1998 legislative priorities and fiscal 1999 budget include the necessary changes and additions to address his recommendations. The Legislature will consider his proposals.