KINDERGARTEN: Path to learning

I teach kindergarten at the Hayden Kinder Center for the Coeur d'Alene School District. I found out that there is a proposed bill to cut funding by $33 million to the state kindergarten budget. Let me give you three reasons why the public needs to stop and consider this a serious concern.

No. 1, a lot of miracles happen in kindergarten. At first glance many of these go unnoticed. I have seen students who never went to preschool and had little to zero letter knowledge test at grade level by the middle of the year because of good solid teaching. What does that mean? Kindergarten can help students who come from disadvantaged homes due to poverty, illiteracy, homelessness and other factors be able to compete with students who have had advantages of preschool and exposure to early literacy skills. Our district offers Extended Day to students who need a full day of instruction to improve their reading skills. There is always a greater need for Extended Day Kindergarten than the district can afford.

The second reason why the state should support kindergarten is that it will save money. It is more expensive to get an older child caught up to grade level.

Finally, one of the most important things that kindergarten teachers do is inspire students to want to learn. Parents are often excited to see how much their children learn in one year.

Thank you to the many parents and patrons in our community who support our schools.

DENISE MILLER

Post Falls