Supporters of Project Enlightenment are hoping that the program's potential budget cuts won't be lost amid all the talk about calendars and student assignment policy.
As noted in today's article, parents and preschool directors are worried that Project Enlightenment will take a major hit when the superintendent's budget proposal for the 2010-11 fiscal year is presented Tuesday. More than 1,000 people have joined a "Save Project Enlightenment" Facebook group.
Project Enlightenment is part of the Central Services budget for the upcoming year that Supt. Del Burns ordered in November be cut by $20 million.
The argument from supporters of Project Enlightenment, which serves children from birth through kindergarten, is that the program saves money. They say that identifying and addressing problems early on can reduce the need for the school system to provide costly special-education services later.
It's probably more likely that Project Enlightenment would only lose some of its school district funding rather than all the dollars. But with the program getting 71 percent of its $3 million budget from the school system, a cut would reduce the services it can provide.
The program's supporters have been blitzing school board members, who've told them that they haven't seen the budget yet because it's a staff proposal.
School board member John Tedesco has told Project Enlightenment's supporters he'll push to keep the program from being cut. He said there have to be other programs with lower priorities that can be cut ahead of Project Enlightenment.
Tedesco said they won't know which other programs might be cut until after they see the budget. But in a year where more layoffs are expected, it won't be easy finding the money.
Some of you guys are probably wondering why Tedesco is being quoted again for a school story. It's because parents who've been lobbying the board say that he and Ron Margiotta are the only ones they've heard back from so far.
In Margiotta's case, parents say he's told them to direct concerns to staff because it's not in the board's hands yet.
As folks who lobbied last year to save funding for Richard Milburn High School and the 10 site coordinators for Communities in Schools can attest, having good arguments doesn't necessary win the day.
Comments
IDEA funding
Tue, 03/02/2010 - 00:51 — RWTI think that if someone looked, they would find that the money PE receives from WCPSS originates from the federal, state, and local funding for preschool services for developmentally disabled and at-risk 3-5 year-olds as mandated by the IDEA.
Everyone keeps saying k-12. School systems serve regular ed students from K-12 (or pre-K-12 for the economically disadvantaged, regular ed students). Students in special education are served from age 3 to age 21. I'm pretty sure this is the case throughout the USA.
Project Enlightenment
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 22:47 — ApexterProject Enlightenment provides valuable services to the community.
My husband and I attended some of the early childhood parenting classes when my oldest was a baby, about 17 years ago. Their classes on positive parenting and dealing with toddlers provided helpful, practical methods for raising children.
I think that Project Enlightenment is a gem that not enough people know about.
Project Enlightenment may
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 23:19 — woodstockProject Enlightenment may be wonderful, but should a cash-strapped school system mandated to provide effective education to k-12 students provide the funding for it? That is the question.
It is clearly beyond the
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 23:34 — DrActualFactualIt is clearly beyond the scope of K-12 and should only continue to receive funding if the staff is moved out into the actual K-12 schools.
That's a valid question, and
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 23:29 — ApexterThat's a valid question, and I can see your side of it. However, providing the tools to parents to get their children off to a good start has a strong potential to make the job of educating those children much easier. Additionally, as Louise noted, it provides a resource for teachers to help them learn how to deal with problem children. As teachers are being forced into larger classes and being expected to do more with less, it hurts even more if we take away one of the few opportunities for assistance afforded them.
I'll respectfully agree to disagree, and continue to believe that the $3 million spent on Project Enlightenment is money well spent.
To me this is typical of the REAL issue facing WCPSS
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 15:37 — festusWhich is money. Money. Funding. That is the root problem for resentment among those who didn't get a child into magnets (we only have money to offer these marvelous benefits as incentives in some of our schools); the root problem of reassignment and MYR (we can't afford to build the schools we need to keep up with runaway growth); and possibly, though this is always a debate, underperformance by poor kids in the system.
The big question for me is how this 900-pound gorilla in the corner, lack of funding, would be resolved by the current board plans for community schools.
"That is the root problem
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 22:42 — Apexter"That is the root problem for resentment among those who didn't get a
child into magnets (we only have money to offer these marvelous
benefits as incentives in some of our schools)"
No. The root problem is the fact that these marvelous benefits are offered as incentives only in Raleigh schools. When it comes to getting outside the beltline kids to go to the schools WCPSS desires, WCPSS has decided that it's OK to force calendars and assignments instead.
It would be interesting to
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:46 — red_balloonIt would be interesting to see the expenditure and funding by program, school, and elective/ course. This data would be necessary to gauge the size of the gorilla.
My experience
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 08:50 — louiselee44My experience with Project Enlightenment has been 100% positive. The one year I taught preschool, I had a child with severe (I mean severe) problems of all sorts. They were the only agency I knew I could turn to for help with a child that young (4 years old). They came in and observed the child more than once, giving concrete examples as to why this child needed professional help, and backing up my assertions to the boy's parents that they needed to be proactive. The folks I dealt with were professional and on-the-ball. They knew their stuff, and took an active role in working with the parents and in doing everything they could to help this child. That's just one example.
Granted, that was over 10 years ago, but I've heard nothing but praise for that agency since. They have helped countless families who had no place to go for advice, referral help, hands-on sessions, etc. for their young children with special needs - needs that parents desperately wanted to address, but, more-often-than-not, didn't know how to even begin to deal with.
What do they do with babies? Don't know about that - but I do know that there are plenty of babies out there with needs that require professional assistance, consistent follow-up, and a more personal relationship than most doctors can give.
Again, I haven't had recent dealings with Project Enlightenment, but in the past, they were always known as an agency that parents and teachers could turn to, knowing that someone would listen, care, and take action.
P.S. - I have never been a fan of "Smart Start".
Interesting. Thanks. I
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 09:03 — woodstockInteresting. Thanks.
I have two questions:
1. Why is this funded by WCPSS? It appears to be outside the purview of a public school system and more in-line with a social services or health care/mental health function.
2. Is there data to demonstrate the value of this program?
Considering our school system's budget concerns, it may be time for WCPSS to stop funding this program. Project Enlightenment has other funding streams; perhaps they should rely on them rather than take away resources from our public school system.
So
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 11:53 — TrailerParkGirlSo, Project Enlightenment is an example of a type of program that would be found in a community schools model, which based on some of your other posts you seem to support. Community school models do support the from birth concept. (If you haven't yet, check out Harlem Children's Zone, which is a community school concept and starts with Baby College.) Project Enlightenment (or from birth concept in general) is about early childhood development as it relates to increasing school preparedness and success. It addresses how the child, parenting and school environment all fit together for student success. For example, techniques will be more successful if there are consistencies between home and school (i.e. reinforcement).
Cutting funding for Project Enlightenment is contrary to the community schools model. Project Enlightenment offers a variety of resources and early interventions for children, parents and teachers. If anything, our public school system would benefit from having more students having access, not stopping it.
Think of it this way:
Child A is (undiagnosed) AG ADHD (yes you can be both) and starting Kindergarten. The child, the parents and teacher have never had any interaction with Project Enlightenment. The parents know little if anything about ADHD and think the kid just tries to push their buttons. They certainly don't know the correct parenting techniques to use. The teacher expects there will always be students that don't pay attention and/or struggle with sitting still at that age. The teacher uses the green, yellow and red light discipline method and makes students color a box on a calendar with their color for the day. Child A wants to stay green, but regularly ends up on yellow as the child has never learned couping mechanisms. This makes the child frustrated and sad and by Christmas break the child no longer wants to go to school.
Child B is AG ADHD and starting Kindergarten and has been involved with Project Enlightenment. The child's parents have been attending sessions where they learned best practice parenting techniques and couping strategies. They have checked out and read books on ADHD from the Project Enlightenment library. The child attended sessions at Project Enlightenment where behavior expectations and couping mechanisms were taught and modeled. The teacher has worked with Project Enlightenment and been given recommendations for classroom interventions and techniques that are not about the color of the day. The teacher attended sessions where more effective techniques were taught and modeled.
Which child and which child's public school classroom do you think will function more successfully? Which child do you want in your child's K classroom - A or B?
Project Enlightenment does not diagnose. That does fall under mental health. However, a child's psychologist is not going to go to the child's classroom or have the child's teacher come to a session on techniques for interacting with ADHD children. So, one aspect of Project Enlightenment is a bit like in-house training.
That is just one example. Also, many of the techniques (like effective limit setting) happen to be beneficial for all kids. So, cutting Project Enlightenment would be like shooting oneself in the foot.
Thanks, this is quite helpful
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 15:33 — festusI like concrete examples, even if hypothetical. I am hearing from teachers and parentes who've actually used or encountered Project Enlightenment that it is an excellent program with very great payoffs personally, socially, and financially.
What are the "pay-offs" and
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 16:13 — woodstockWhat are the "pay-offs" and how do they correspond with the mission of a public school system?
The operative word in a
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 12:04 — woodstockThe operative word in a community schools model is "community." As in community resources...meaning that not every resource is funded by the school system. It involves the engagement of multiple community resouces working together. It may include social services, health care, local businesses, city and county resources, etc.
I understand
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 12:43 — TrailerParkGirlI understand how they work. I was educated in them.
In most cases the funding is public-public partnership (i.e. school system and another publicly funded entity such as the municipality) or public-private partnership (meaning school system and private community service organization). Some things are covered by volunteers. Some things may be fully funded outside the school system, but I don't think they generally are things as expansive as this program.
According to the article, 29% of Project Enlightenment's funding already comes from outside the school system. From what I could find, the 29% is a combination of other public, a non-profit organization, other donations and fees. So multiple community resources are working together. The mix of funding going forward may be an area that could be considered, but additional funding should be identified before cutting WCPSS funding so that provision of services is not negatively impacted. Would you expect Project Enlightenment to be fully funded outside the school system or just change the % mix of funding?
MY opinion is that Project
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 13:31 — woodstockMY opinion is that Project Enlightenment should not be funded by WCPSS. A public school system should focus on the academic needs of K-12 students.
I am all for partnerships and linking of services, but there has to be boundaries placed on what certain funds can be used for.
!!!
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 09:21 — choice4allNot sure how to answer this one for you woodstock.
WCPSS has their own Special Ed division under Wake Countys umbrella. Manuvering that entity is very interesting indeed. The preschool division is under the special ed and I am not sure how project enlightment became a part of that. I do know I have heard that Project Enlightment comes into the classrooms to help identify childrens needs, when requested, as Louise states.
Ot. Some schools, not all, have pre-school classrooms set aside for special need children to get them ready for the educational setting. I could never understand why they would occupy a classroom setting (taking away classroom space) and not holding these important classrooms off-site somewhere where these children could be served.
I will say that for some Project Enlightment is a parents "Life Line" when given the news that their child has an issue. They direct you to the help that the parent/child needs. Cutting this service would be a great disservice for the special need population.
Don't know
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 09:20 — louiselee44I have no knowledge of the hows and whys of the funding issues for Project Enlightenment.
You are right Louise
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 09:02 — choice4allsee my post below. sorry
Project Enlightment is a resource for Parents who have concerns with their childs developmental needs. Such as Autism, ADD, developmental delays. It is an venue where a parent can go find help for their child. All studies point to the early intervention of a developmentaly delayed child reduces the need for services when entering in the educational setting. Being identified early on is a big plus for these kids as not to place a burden on the educational system when they age out entering the public school system in K.
Having said that I was not aware they were funded by the Wake County Public School System.
"The argument from
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 08:08 — woodstock"The argument from supporters of Project Enlightenment, which serves children from birth through kindergarten, is that the program saves money."
"From birth...?" Really? What business or responsibility is it of taxpayers and a public school system to provide services that address the educational needs of infants? As a society, why do we keep inviting government into our lives? Where is our sense of personal responsibility? How have we gotten to a point where the even the most responsibilities of parenting is no longer an expectation of those chosing to have children?
Is Project Enlightnment an extension of or off-shoot of SmartStart? I thought numerous studies showed that any temporary benefits of Smart Start quickly dissipated by grade 2 or 3, therefore making the program, for all intents and purposes, ineffective from an education standpoint.
Project Enlightenment
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 09:00 — KeungHui (author)Project Enlightenment predates Smart Start. The program was established in 1969.
Project Enlightment
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 08:48 — choice4allProject Enlightment is a resource for Parents who have concerns with their childs developmental needs. Such as Autism, ADD, developmental delays. It is an venue where a parent can go find help for their child. All studies point to the early intervention of a developmentaly delayed child reduces the need for services when entering in the educational setting. Being identified early on is a big plus for these kids as not to place a burden on the educational system when they age out entering the public school system in K.
Having said that I was not aware they were funded by the Wake County Public School System.
OT a little
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 08:53 — choice4allWhatever happend to the 70+ million$$ from the stimulas fund? It was my understanding that 40+$$ million would go to special ed. And the rest was for Teaching coaches for the Free and Reduced. Anyone monotoring this? Where is it? How is it being spent?