More at Four would lose $40m in budget

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on April 9, 2009 - 8:29am.
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The state's preschool program took a big hit in the Senate budget.

More at Four would lose $40 million — about 25 percent of its money — under the budget tentatively approved Wednesday.

Child care administrators said the More at Four cut would make it difficult to sustain a high-quality preschool program.

Started by former Gov. Mike Easley in 2001, More at Four has the goal of getting at-risk four-year-olds ready for kindergarten. The most recent evaluation showed that about one-fifth of the students spoke little or no English and 90 percent were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

This year, the budget was $170.6 million, with $84 million coming from lottery proceeds. (N&O)

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Re: More at Four would lose $40m in budget

Submitted by cecilesmom on April 10, 2009 - 7:25am.

There is an existing bill to merge Smart Start and More at Four, however the senate budget calls for two separate programs--Smart Start as it is and More at Four moved to another division of DHHS.

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Re: More at Four would lose $40m in budget

Submitted by reeses on April 10, 2009 - 5:21am.

This is a great move by the Senate, hope the House will agree!!!

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Re: More at Four would lose $40m in budget

Submitted by dahedgehog on April 9, 2009 - 11:59pm.

Page G-1, Item 8. DCD is not the same as Smart Start.

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Re: More at Four would lose $40m in budget

Submitted by jjsmith2 on April 9, 2009 - 11:05am.

Look back at the Budget. More at 4 is being moved from DPI to DHHS and is being merged with Smart Start. There is no need for administrative redudancy.

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Re: More at Four would lose $40m in budget

Submitted by dahedgehog on April 9, 2009 - 10:03am.

JJsmith2,
Perhaps members of the media are forgetting to mention a More at Four and Smart Start merger because.....that's not what the Senate budget calls for!

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Re: More at Four would lose $40m in budget

Submitted by j1c2kp on April 9, 2009 - 9:30am.

Once upon a time kindergarten was to get children ready for school, now we have to get four-year-olds ready for kindergarten.

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Re: More at Four would lose $40m in budget

Submitted by jjsmith2 on April 9, 2009 - 9:28am.

Why are members of the media forgetting to mention that More at 4 and Smart Start are being merged?

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