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TONIGHT ON INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII, ONE OF GOVERNOR ABERCROMBIE'S TOP PRIORITIES IS TO
GIVE ALL HAWAII'S KEIKI THE CHANCE TO ATTEND PRESCHOOL.
AND EARLY LEARNING EXPERTS SAY THAT COULD MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE WHEN IT COMES TO SUCCESS
IN SCHOOL AND LIFE. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO PUT A UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL
PLAN INTO ACTION AND WHAT IS THE PAYOFF FOR OUR INVESTMENT IN EARLY EDUCATION?
NOW, LIVE IN OUR STUDIO, OUR HOST, DAN BOYLAN. >>DAN: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS
HAWAI'I. I'M DAN BOYLAN.
HAWAI'I IS ONE OF ONLY 11 STATES THAT DOES NOT FUND PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS.
CLOSE TO HALF OUR CHILDREN COME TO KINDERGARTEN WITHOUT PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCE.
EDUCATORS SAY THOSE KIDS START AT A DISADVANTAGE, DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME.
AIDED BY A COALITION OF EARLY LEARNING ADVOCATES, GOVERNOR ABERCROMBIE WANTS TO CHANGE THAT.
LAST YEAR, THE STATE PASSED A LAW THAT STARTS TRANSITION FROM CURRENT JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN
TO THE ANTICIPATED HAWAI'I PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. THIS YEAR, LEGISLATION IS IN THE WORKS TO
MOVE THAT PROCESS ALONG. ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, PRESIDENT OBAMA ALSO
WANTS TO MAKE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION A PRIORITY.
HE'S PROPOSED A FEDERAL STATE PARTNERSHIP TO FUND HIGH QUALITY PRESCHOOL FOR ALL 4 YEAR
OLDS. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO OUR KEIKI AND SOCIETY
AT LARGE WHEN ALL STUDENTS START SCHOOL BEFORE KINDERGARTEN?
TONIGHT WE'LL SPEAK WITH THE GOVERNOR'S TOP EXPERT ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS EDUCATORS,
ADVOCATES, PARENTS AND POLICYMAKERS. MANY OF YOU HAVE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE WITH
THIS ISSUE AS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, EMPLOYERS, TEACHERS AND AS PRESCHOOL VETERANS IN YOUR
OWN RIGHT. I NEVER HAD THAT EXPERIENCE.
I FEEL BAD. SO WE HOPE YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE YOUR QUESTIONS
AND THOUGHTS TONIGHT. IS PRESCHOOL NECESSARY TO PREPARE YOUNG CHILDREN
FOR SCHOOL AND BEYOND? WHAT SHOULD THEY LEARN BEFORE KINDERGARTEN
AND IS THIS A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT FOR OUR STATE?
YOU CAN JOIN OUR CONVERSATION BY CALLING, E MAILING OR TWEETING YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
FOR OUR GUESTS. THE CONTACT INFORMATION YOU NOW SEE ON YOUR
SCREEN WILL BE REPEATED THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM. INSIGHT IS ALSO STREAMING LIVE ON YOUR COMPUTER
AND WILL BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE AFTER THE BROADCAST.
NOW, TO OUR GUESTS. TERRY LOCK IS THE DIRECTOR OF STATE EXECUTIVE
OFFICE ON EARLY LEARNING, NEW CABINET LEVEL POSITION IN THE STATE ADMINISTRATION.
BEFORE COMING TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, TERRY DIRECTED KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS' COMMUNITY BASED
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION DIVISION AND BEFORE THAT, SHE WAS MAUI COUNTY'S EARLY CHILDHOOD
COORDINATOR. STATE SENATOR JILL TOKUDA REPRESENTS THE WINDWARD
DISTRICT FROM KAILUA TO KANEOHE. SHE IS MAJORITY WHIP AND CHAIRS THE SENATE
EDUCATION COMMITEE WHERE SHE PRESIDES OVER HEARINGS ON EARLY EDUCATION BILLS.
JILL ALSO SERVED ON VARIOUS EDUCATION RELATED COMMISSIONS AND TASK FORCES.
KANOE NAONE IS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF INPEACE, INSTITUTE FOR NATIVE PACIFIC EDUCATION
AND CULTURE. INPEACE PROGRAMS SUCH AS KEIKI STEPS TO KINDERGARTEN
SERVE THOUSANDS OF ECONOMICALLY AND EDUCATIONALLY DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
KANOE PREVIOUSLY TAUGHT IN THE D.O.E.'S HAWAIIAN IMMERSION PROGRAM AND WORKED WITH THE KEIKI
O KA AINA FAMILY LEARNING CENTERS. KEITH VIEIRA IS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR STARWOOD HOTELS AND RESORTS IN HAWAI'I AND FRENCH POLYNESIA.
KEITH IS ON THE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR THE BE MY VOICE CAMPAIGN AND TESTIFIED AT THE
STATE LEGISLATURE GIVING THE BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE ON THE BENEFITS OF PRESCHOOL.
DEBORAH ZYSMAN IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GOOD BEGINNINGS ALLIANCE, A NONPROFIT CHILD
ADVOCACY GROUP. GOOD BEGINNINGS IS RUNNING THE BE MY VOICE
CAMPAIGN TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND PERSUADE STATE LAWMAKERS
TO FUND UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL FOR ALL 4 YEAR OLDS.
LET'S LOOK AT A 30 SECOND PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT PRODUCED THROUGH THE "BE MY VOICE" CAMPAIGN.
¶ ¶
>> THE STATE OF HAWAI'I SPENDS NEARLY $50,000 A YEAR ON EACH PRISON INMATE AND ALMOST NOTHING
ON OUR PRESCHOOLERS. DON'T IMPRISON OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.
ASK YOUR LEGISLATOR TO FUND PRESCHOOL FOR ALL FOUR YEAR OLDS.
YOU CAN CHANGE THEIR FUTURE AT BE MY VOICE HAWAI'I.ORG.
>>DAN: DEBORAH, THAT'S A PRETTY SCARY AD. IF WE DON'T HAVE PRESCHOOL FOR OUR KIDS, EARLY
EDUCATION PROGRAM, THEY'RE GOING TO END UP IN PRISON?
THAT'S KIND OF HARSH. >> IT'S A METAPHORE, BUT WE DID WANT IT TO
BE PROVOCATIVE. WHEN WE SET OUT TO DO THIS CAMPAIGN, WE KNEW
THAT EARLY EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME AND SHARING THE
RESEARCH AND HOW KIDS REALLY BENEFIT FROM PRESCHOOL WHEN IT SEEMED LIKE NO ONE WAS LISTENING.
WE SET OUT TO KIND OF SHAKE PEOPLE AND SAY, CAN THEY PAY ATTENTION.
YOU KNOW WHAT? THESE ADS HAVE DONE IT.
>>DAN: SHACKLES WILL DO IT EVERY TIME. WHAT'S THE GOOD BEGINNINGS ALLIANCE?
>> STATEWIDE NONPROFIT THAT DOES ADVOCACY ON EARLY CHILDHOOD ISSUES.
SO HEALTH, SAFETY AND EDUCATION FOR OUR KIDS FROM PRENATAL TO 8.
>>DAN: WHEN I THINK ABOUT EARLY EDUCATION AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, I WAS AT AN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL THE OTHER DAY, I ASKED THE PRINCIPAL HOW MANY MALE TEACHERS DO YOU HAVE. SHE SAID
TWO OUT OF THE ENTIRE SIX GRADES, AND WHY? WELL, THEY LIKE SECONDARY EDUCATION.
NOT PRESCHOOL. WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
WHAT DOES BUSINESS HAVE TO DO WITH EARLY EDUCATION? >> TWO BEST PERSPECTIVES ARE VERY IMPORTANT
FOR US. FIRST IS WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT.
AS LOOKING AT THE KIDS COMING OUT OF COLLEGE OR HIGH SCHOOL AND COMING INTO OUR WORK FORCE,
WHETHER IT BE IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, OR GENERAL BUSINESS, THEY'RE LOOKING AT HOW THEY'RE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO FUND PUTTING THEIR KIDS THROUGH SCHOOL.
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT PRESCHOOL EDUCATION. THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT AT THAT AGE, NOT MAKING
MUCH MONEY. SO YOU NEED HELP IN GETTING THEM TO PRESCHOOL.
AND WHAT WE HEAR FROM A LOT OF OUR INCOMING MANAGERS IS THAT IN DECIDING BETWEEN THE MAINLAND
AND HERE, IF YOU CAN GO TO A STATE THAT HAS FUNDED PRESCHOOL, MAYBE THAT MAY BE THE CHOICE.
SO FROM THAT STANDPOINT, THE WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT IS IMPORTANT.
THE OTHER SIDE, BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, IS DOING SOMETHING PROACTIVE FOR ONCE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY AND TAXATION AND THE COST OF LIVING AND EVERYTHING THAT
GOES UP, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO BE ABLE TO REIN SOME OF THOSE COSTS IN.
HOW ABOUT STARTING EARLY? HOW ABOUT GIVING KIDS THE RIGHT FOUNDATION
SO YOU HAVE SOME OF THOSE LESS SCENARIOS THAT YOU SAW IN THE TV ADS REALLY IS ONE OF BEING
PROACTIVE AND TRYING TO GET TO THEM EARLY AND GIVING THEM A GOOD START IN LIFE SO THEY
CAN BE SUCCESSFUL LATER. >>DAN: MY WIFE AND I WENT TO DINNER THE OTHER
NIGHT AND RAN INTO A BUSINESSMAN WHO WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW, KNOWN HIM FOR A WHILE, SOMEHOW
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S COMING UP ON THE SHOW.
I SAID EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. BUSINESSMAN, HE SAYS, IT'S JUST BABYSITTING.
HIGH PRICED BABYSITTING. NOW, DO YOU HEAR THAT AMONG BUSINESSMEN?
>> NO. I THINK PEOPLE CLEARLY RECOGNIZE TO PUT YOUR
KIDS INTO PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS AND WE HAVE THEM OUT THERE NOW
AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS WILLING TO STEP UP AND ASSIST IN THOSE PROGRAMS.
BUT YOU HAVE TO GIVE KIDS THIS START. YOU HAVE TO GET THEM READY COMING INTO SCHOOL
AND YOU HEAR FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE, LET'S FIX K THROUGH 12 FIRST.
YOU WANT TO FIX K THROUGH 12, GET THE KIDS COMING IN BETTER PREPARED, BETTER READY SO
TEACHERS CAN HAVE MORE SUCCESS WITH THEM. >>DAN: TERRY, YOU CAME HERE LAST TIME AND
HAD A DIFFERENT TITLE. NOW YOU'RE A BIG DEAL.
YOU WERE JUST A LITTLE DEAL THEN. NOW YOU'RE A BIG DEAL.
WHERE DOES THE GOVERNOR COME DOWN? WHAT PRECISELY IS HE PROPOSING?
>> WELL, HE'S PROPOSING THAT WE GET KIDS READY FOR SCHOOL.
BECAUSE I MENTIONED JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN ED ENDING.
THERE'S ALSO THE CHANGE IN KINDERGARTEN AGE. WITH THAT, THERE'S GOING TO BE A NUMBER OF
CHILDREN, ABOUT 5,100 CHILDREN WITHOUT SERVICES IN 2014 '15 SCHOOL YEAR.
THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING THAT WE NEED TO START WITH THAT URGENCY AND BE ABLE TO HAVE
PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN. SCHOOL READINESS.
SO AND IT WOULD BE EDUCATIONAL, SO I WAS GOING TO SAY, THE QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED KEITH,
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT QUALIFIED STAFF ARE BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE PROGRAMS.
>>DAN: BUT ISN'T THE PRIVATE SECTOR DOING IT IN A WAY?
YOU'VE GOT HOW MANY STUDENTS IN YOUR PROGRAMS? I THINK YOU HAVE 12 DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AROUND
THE STATE. WE HAVE 8 PROGRAMS AND IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD
SECTOR, WE'VE GOT 700, ANOTHER 600, ROUGHLY A GOOD 1,400 KIDS.
BUT THAT'S JUST A SMALL SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION. IT'S REALLY SMALL.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IN SOME COMMUNITIES, ONLY 20% OF KIDS ARE GOING TO PRESCHOOL.
AND SO WHAT ARE THE SLOTS AND WHAT ARE THE PRESCHOOLS OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR
THEM? YOU HAVE SOME COMMUNITIES THAT 80% GO, BUT
THE STATE AVERAGES ABOUT 60% GO. SO THAT MEANS 40% OF THE POPULATION IS NOT
GOING TO PRESCHOOL. SO REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY PRESCHOOL PROVIDERS
THERE ARE OUT THERE, THERE STILL ARE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF KIDS THAT AREN'T GETTING SERVICES.
>>DAN: WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THIS PROGRAM? WHO'S PAYING FOR YOUR PROGRAM?
>> SO OUR FUNDING COMES THROUGH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
SO WE HAVE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR OUR PROGRAM. WE ALSO HAVE SOME PRIVATE FOUNDATION FUNDING.
CURRENTLY, INPEACE AND ALL OF OUR 8 PROGRAMS, WE DON'T HAVE ANY STATE FUNDING FOR ANY OF
OUR STATE SERVICES >>DAN: SO IT'S FEDERAL AND SOME PRIVATE?
>> YES. FEDERAL AND SOME PRIVATE
>>DAN: IT TENDS TO BE ALONG THE COAST. OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS IS NOT INVOLVED AT ALL?
>> NO. THEY DON'T FUND OUR PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS.
AND THEN WE ARE IN NATIVE HAWAIIAN SERVING NATIVE HAWAIIAN HOMESTEAD COMMUNITIES ACROSS
THE STATE. >>DAN: NOW, THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD, JILL,
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. IN THAT BUILDING YOU WORK IN.
WHAT BILLS LOOK POSSIBLE TO YOU? >> RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THREE BILLS THAT ARE
GOING THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE. IT'S THE HOLY TRINITY OF BILLS FOR EARLY LEARNING
AND IT IS THE SCHOOL READINESS MEASURE, THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND THE EARLY LEARNING
MEASURE THAT NEEDS TO PASS. SO THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING
ON TO MAKE THIS PUBLICLY FUNDED EARLY LEARNING SYSTEM A REALITY FOR HAWAI'I.
RIGHT NOW, THOSE THREE MEASURES HAVE PASSED. THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE
AND ARE POISED TO CROSS OVER INTO THE HOUSE NEXT WEEK AFTER A FLOOR VOTE IN THE SENATE.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF POLITICAL WILL FOR BOTH OF HOUSE AND SENATE
TO NOT ONLY PASS THOSE 3 PARTICULAR MEASURES TO ALSO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT OF INVESTMENT OF
RESOURCES TOWARDS THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT ROUGHLY $30 MILLION IN THE FIRST
BIENNIUM AND ONGOING FROM THAT POINT FORWARD TO REALLY START TO PHASE THIS UPWARDS.
IT'S REALLY AN INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE.
YOU MENTIONED EARLIER WE HAVE PRIVATE PROVIDERS OUT THERE AND THEY'VE BEEN MOVING HAWAI'I
FORWARD ALL THOSE YEARS. IF YOU HAVE HAD THE BENEFIT OF PRESCHOOL EDUCATION
IN HAWAI'I AT SOME POINT, THE CHANCES ARE YOU'VE HAD IT BECAUSE A PRIVATE PROVIDER HAS
BEEN THERE TO GIVE IT TO YOU. WELL, IT'S TIME THAT THE STATE STEP UP, PUT
SOME SKIN IN THE GAME AND I THINK THIS IS REALLY WHAT THIS REPRESENTS.
>>DAN: CAN THE STATE AFFORD TO PUT THE SKIN IN THE GAME?
I MEAN, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF UNCERTAINTY DOWN AT THE LEGISLATURE
ABOUT WHERE I MEAN, CONTRACTS THAT HAVE TO BE REACHED WITH OTHER PUBLIC WORKERS AND
WITH THE TEACHERS AND NOW, YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY GOING TO TAKE, IF K THROUGH 12 CONSTITUTES
13 YEARS OF EDUCATION, YOU'RE GOING TO ADD A 14TH YEAR OF EDUCATION.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR THAT? THAT'S A LOT OF BUCKS, RIGHT?
>> YES. IT COSTS MONEY, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THAT RESOURCES
IN THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL, IT'S REALLY TAKING GENERAL FUNDS AND REALLY STARTING THE PROGRAM.
AS WE GO TO THE OUT YEARS, INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN, WE WILL HAVE TO FIND THOSE RESOURCES.
BUT FOR NOW, I THINK WE CAN SAFELY SAY THAT IT'S THERE.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF PRIORITY AND ABOUT HOW WE THINK ABOUT OUR INVESTMENT.
>> I THINK IF YOU GO BACK TO THE PRISON COMMERCIAL, THE REALITY IS WE'RE ALREADY SPENDING A HUGE
AMOUNT OF MONEY ON REMEDIATION AND OTHER SOCIAL KINDS OF SERVICES AS A RESULT OF OUR KIDS
NOT BEING READY IN THIRD GRADE. THEY BASICALLY SAY THAT PRISON BEDS ARE CREATED
BASED ON THIRD GRADE READING SCORES. AND THE LARGEST AND MOST IMPACTFUL WAY TO
POSITIVELY IMPACT THIRD GRADE READING SCORES IS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
>> AS I SAY, THERE'S AN EVEN MORE IMMEDIATE RETURN THAT I THINK WE CAN'T AFFORD TO MISS
OUT ON. THAT'S ACTUALLY SPECIAL EDUCATION.
THE RESEARCH SHOWS KIDS WHO GO AND GET EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES ARE LESS LIKELY TO NEED
SPECIAL EDUCATION. I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS ON THIS
TODAY. SPECIAL EDUCATION COSTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION ARE ABOUT 40% OF THE D.O.E. BUDGET. THAT'S FOR ABOUT 10% OF OUR KIDS.
EVEN IF WE CAN REDUCE THAT A LITTLE BIT, IT'S HUGE COST SAVINGS DOWN THE LINE FOR D.O.E.
SO THAT'S A QUICK, YOU LOOK AT LONG TERM RETURNS IN TERMS OF WORK FORCE AND INMATES AND THINGS
LIKE THAT. IF WE CAN HELP D.O.E. REDUCE SPECIAL EDUCATION
COSTS, WHICH OTHER STATES HAVE SEEN, THAT'S HUGE.
I THINK THE OTHER THING FOR US ON THE INVESTMENTS PIECE THOUGH IS THINKING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT
AS YOU MENTIONED IN THE OPEN. AND THAT RIGHT NOW, HAWAI'I IS NOT IN A GREAT
PLACE TO TAP FEDERAL FUNDS THAT MAY BE COMING OUT IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
IF WE'RE ONE OF THE ONLY STATES IN THE NATION WITHOUT ANY KIND OF PROGRAM, WE WILL MISS
THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS. SO MY ARGUMENT WOULD BE WE NEED TO FIND THE
MONEY THIS YEAR. WE HAVE TO START INVESTING IN THIS.
WE CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO. >>DAN: KEITH, I STILL WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT
QUESTION ABOUT TAXES. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT TERRY SAYS THAT WE'LL
HAVE TO FIND OTHER, GOING TO START WITH GENERAL FUND MONEY AND $30 MILLION, WHATEVER IT IS,
OF GENERAL FUND MONEY. BUT ISN'T THERE A THEN WE'LL FIND OTHER
WAYS. WHAT ARE THE OTHER WAYS?
DOESN'T THAT MEAN SOME FEDERAL MONEY? AND DOESN'T IT MEAN PERHAPS RAISING TAXES?
PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, SMALL BUSINESS CERTAINLY ALWAYS COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT.
>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT. SOME OF THIS IS PAYING IT FORWARD.
IF WE CAN THIS TAKES A NUMBER OF YEARS TO GET INTO EFFECT.
SO 5500 STUDENTS IN THE FIRST YEAR AND GROWS UNTIL AT SOME POINT, WHEN IT'S ALL 18,000
I BELIEVE. PEOPLE FORGET THAT IT'S COFUNDED.
IT'S NOT FREE FOR EVERYONE. PEOPLE ARE PAYING A PORTION BY THE AMOUNT
THEY EARN. SO THERE IS SKIN IN THE GAME FROM PARENTS
ALSO. I WOULD GUESS AT THE END, IT WILL BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 75 AND 80% THAT WOULD BE
IN THE PROGRAM. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT AND YOU LOOK AT THE
TIME THEY HAVE TO GO IN, I THINK THE D.O.E. CAN GO INTO THEIR BUDGET AND LOOK FOR SOME
OF THE SAVINGS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET DOWN THE ROAD, BUT IT'S A MATTER OF PRIORITY AND
WILL. IF WE DON'T START WITH THESE, YOU HAVE PROBLEMS
LATER. AND WE'VE BEEN KICKING THAT CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
WE'VE GOT TO STEP UP TO IT AND I THINK FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, IT'S ALL ABOUT BEING
PROACTIVE AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S THE INVESTMENT TODAY, WHAT'S MY RETURN ON LATER.
WE RECOGNIZE THE INVESTMENTS IS MUCH BETTER MADE UP FRONT VERSUS PAYING THE PRICE LATER.
>>DAN: THE RESEARCH SHOWS... FINISH THE SENTENCE FOR ME.
WHO WANTS TO FINISH TO SENTENCE? RESEARCH SHOWS...
>> RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE INVESTMENT YOU MAKE NOW, FOR EVERY DOLLAR, WE'RE GOING TO
BE SAVING ABOUT $4.20 IN THE COST OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, INCARCERATION, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
THE OTHER THING IS RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WE'RE ONE OF THE 11 STATES THAT DON'T HAVE A STATE
FUNDED PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. SO 39 OTHER STATES HAVE DONE IT.
SO THERE'S A WAY TO DO THIS AND IT IS A MATTER OF PRIORITY.
>> I THINK IF I MAY ADD TO THAT TOO, THERE'S ACTUAL BENEFIT AS I BROUGHT UP A FEW TIMES
OF ACTUALLY BEING ONE OF 11 STATES THAT HAVE NOT PUT A PRESCHOOL PROGRAM IN PLACE
IN THE SENSE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY LEARN FROM SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES OUT THERE ACROSS
THE COUNTRY SO WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL AND MAKE THOSE MISTAKES
THAT OTHER STATES HAVE MADE. SO TERRY AND HER TEAM, THEY CAN GO OUT AND
TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT OTHER STATES HAVE DONE. THE STRATEGIES THAT THEY HAVE TRIED, MATRIX
THEY HAVE PUT IN PLACE, ASSESSMENTS, AND THEY CAN TAKE ALL OF THOSE BEST PRACTICES, KNOW
WHAT WE KNOW HERE LOCALLY TO BE TRUE AND PUT IN PLACE SOMETHING THAT REALLY WORKS WELL.
SO IF THERE IS ANY BENEFIT TO BEING ONE OF LAST IN THE GAME, IT'S THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM
THE SUCCESSES AND THE FAILURES OF OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING
THEY ARE IN FACT DOING RIGHT NOW >>DAN: YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN THE DEFINITION
OF WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS? >> 85% OF THE BRAIN IS DEVELOPED BEFORE AGE
FIVE. THAT IS, 85%.
YOU HAVE MISSED THE BOAT IF YOU MISS THAT OPPORTUNITY.
>>DAN: I CAN SEE SOME GUY OUT THERE SAYING, WELL, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PROVIDE FOR 4 YEAR
OLDS IN 85%, THAT MEANS YOU'VE GOT, YOU'VE GOT ONE FIFTH OF, RIGHT?
YOU'RE GOING TO ADD ONE MORE YEAR. SO WHAT ABOUT 3 AND 2 AND 1?
AND THEN SOCIALISTS STATE WHERE WE'RE NOT HAVING FAMILIES DOING ANY OF THIS THING ANY
MORE. WE'RE HAVING PRESCHOOLS DOING EVERYTHING.
WHERE'S MOM AND DAD? DON'T THEY HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES IN ALL OF
THIS? >> ACTUALLY FAMILY CHILD LEARNING PROGRAMS
ARE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH FAMILIES AND HELPING THEM TO DEVELOP THEIR UNDERSTANDING
HOW CHILDREN LEARN AND GROW IS AN INCREDIBLE LEVERAGE POINT.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING ESPECIALLY AT THOSE EARLY AGES.
THINK ABOUT IT. I GRADUATED, I HAD MY COLLEGE DEGREE. 24 YEARS OLD, I HAD MY MASTER'S DEGREE
ALREADY. HAD NO CLUE, WHEN THAT BABY CAME HOME, WHAT
THE HECK I WAS GOING TO DO. I MEAN, I REALLY THOUGHT THAT I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT I WAS DOING. AND SO PARENTS, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT IS. IT'S A LITTLE FRIGHTENING.
>>DAN: YOU WERE MA STUPID LIKE ALL THE REST OF US.
>> QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION REALLY DOES INCLUDE WHAT KANOE SAID.
IT'S THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FAMILY, NOT JUST GOING TO SCHOOL.
WHAT KEITH BROUGHT UP, PARENTS HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME, THEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND THERE'S
ALSO WAYS TO HELP THEM. >>DAN: YEAH.
BUT IT DOES SEEM TO ME THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO FURTHER, RIGHT?
I MEAN, ULTIMATELY, IF YOU BELIEVE IN THIS, IT'S NOT I DON'T WANT TO SAY BELIEVE.
THE RESEARCH SAYS. THE RESEARCH SAYS, YOU USE ONE AND $4.10.
I SAW SOMEBODY CLAIMING SOMEBODY ONE DOLLAR INVESTED MAY RESULT IN 7 TO TEN DOLLARS SAVINGS.
THAT'S PROBABLY IF WE ALL END UP IN SHACKLES. I DON'T KNOW.
I'M ALWAYS A LITTLE BOTHERED BY NUMBERS LIKE THAT.
IT SEEMS EXCESSIVE TO ME. HAVE WE HAD PRESCHOOL SO LONG, THAT WE KNOW
THE DIFFERENCE? >> WE HAVE ALMOST 40 YEARS OF RESEARCH NOW.
FOUR DECADES. >>DAN: I GUESS MY QUESTION SHOWS HOW OLD I
AM. HOW FAR BACK THAT GOES.
WHAT'S THE REST OF THE ALLIANCE'S CAMPAIGN? DO YOU HOPE TO GET THESE BILLS THROUGH THIS
SESSION? >> WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL.
WE THINK THERE'S MOVING. THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNITY ENERGY AROUND IT.
WE'VE BEEN OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, TALKING TO PARENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, GRANDPARENTS AND
THEY'RE REALLY CRYING OUT FOR THIS. FAMILIES NEED HELP.
THERE IS ACCESS ISSUES. YOU HAVE FAMILIES WHERE NOT ONLY PARENTS BUT
GRANDPARENTS ARE IN THE WORK FORCE NOW. SO IT IS AN ISSUE OF WHAT WILL WE DO WITH
THE CHILD DURING THE DAY, BUT FAMILIES SEEING BENEFITS TO HAVING GOOD QUALITY
EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS. THEY DON'T WANT THEIR KIDS GOING TO SOMEONE'S
HOUSE AND BEING PLUNKED IN FRONT OF A VIDEO ALL DAY LONG BECAUSE THEY SEE THE DEVELOPMENTAL
IMPACT. WE THINK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING UP.
WE THINK THINGS ARE GOING TO MOVE >>DAN: THEY COULD BE WATCHING PBS KIDS, YOU
KNOW, WHICH WE THINK IS VERY GOOD FOR THEM. >> FOR AN HOUR A DAY.
>>DAN: MORE. MORE OF THAT.
THEY DON'T WATCH INSIGHTS I DON'T THINK. YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN.
NOT ALL THAT SMALL ANY MORE. >> I HAVE TWO.
3 YEAR OLD AND A 4 AND A HALF YEAR OLD. ENJOYS PBS KIDS, BY THE WAY
>>DAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT.
ARE THEY IN PRESCHOOL? >> THEY ARE BOTH IN PRESCHOOL.
AND IN FACT, WE MADE A VERY CONSCIOUS DECISION WHEN OUR YOUNGEST SON WHO HAS A SLIGHT SPEECH
DELAY TO MAKE SURE HE HAD 3 FULL YEARS OF PRESCHOOL BECAUSE WE REALIZED WHEN WE PUT
OUR YOU FIRST SON IN PRESCHOOL, THE HUGE IMPACT AND DIFFERENCE IT MADE TO PUT YOUR CHILD IN
THE HANDS OF A CAPABLE HIGHLY QUALIFIED EARLY LEARNING PROFESSIONAL AND IN AN ENVIRONMENT
LIKE THAT, THE DIFFERENCE IT REALLY MAKES. YOU CAN SEE THEM TRANSFORM.
WHILE IT WAS A FINANCIALLY DIFFICULT DECISION FOR MY HUSBAND AND I ECONOMICALLY, WE KNEW
THAT FOR OUR SONS, THAT WAS THE KIND OF SACRIFICE YOU HAD TO MAKE.
THIS IS WHAT ADA AND MATTY NEEDED, I CAN TELL YOU IT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
>>DAN: WHAT DOES IT COST YOU A YEAR APPROXIMATELY? >> TALKING WELL OVER
>>DAN: WHAT DID IT COST YOU A YEAR, APPROXIMATELY? YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL US.
I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING WELL OVER, FOR 2 CHILDREN, WELL OVER 15, $20,000.
DEPENDING ON THE SCHOOL YOU'RE GOING TO. IT'S NOT AN INEXPENSIVE ENDEAVOR.
>>DAN: THAT WAS STARTING AT 2 YEARS OLD >> FOR STARTING AT 2 YEARS OLD.
LOOKING AT 3 FULL YEARS FOR ONE SON. AND MY OTHER SON HAD 2 FULL YEARS, ALMOST
2 AND A HALF >>DAN: DID YOU HAVE KIDS IN PRESCHOOL?
>> YES. >>DAN: YOU PAID THE PRICE
>> MY WIFE WAS WORKING AT THE TIME, WE STARTED YEAR AND A HALF, AND WENT TO A DIFFERENT PROGRAM,
SAINT CLEMENS AFTER THAT. IT'S NOT JUST THE READING AND WRITING.
IT'S THE INTERACTION. HE ALSO HAD A SPEECH STUTTER.
SO UNDERSTANDING HOW TO INTERACT WITH KIDS WAS VERY IMPORTANT AND AS WE SEE HIM NOW,
HE'S A LOT MORE CONFIDENT AND ABLE TO DEAL WITH OTHERS
>> SOME OF THOSE THINGS YOU DO LEARN IN PRESCHOOL. >>DAN: TERRY?
>> YOU'RE ASKING ME WHETHER I WENT TO PRESCHOOL? >> DAN: ABOUT YOUR KIDS.
MY KIDS ALL WENT TO PRESCHOOL. AND I WAS A WORKING MOM MYSELF.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE THERE. BUT ALSO, WE CREATED THAT ENVIRONMENT OF STIMULATION
FOR THEM. NOW I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN, I HAVE ONE GRANDSON
GOING TO PRESCHOOL >>DAN: ALL PRIVATE PRESCHOOL
>> PRIVATE PRESCHOOLS >>DAN: YOUR PEOPLE, DO THEY HAVE TO PAY
>> NO, BUT THEY COME AND VOLUNTEER. ACTUALLY HAVE FOUR CHILDREN AND MY CHILDREN
HAVE EXPERIENCED ALL EARLY CHILDHOOD SETS. SO I DID HOME VISITING WITH ONE OF THEM.
I HAD PRIVATE PRESCHOOL. I HAD AHAPUNA NALEA HAWAIIAN IMMERSION PRESCHOOL.
ONE AT KAMEHAMEHA PRESCHOOL AND ALSO OUR KEIKI STEPS PROGRAM, FAMILY CHILD INTERACTION PARENT
PARTICIPATION PRESCHOOL. SO FOR OUR PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY, PARENTS
COME AND THEY ARE THERE WITH THEIR CHILD LEARNING SIDE BY SIDE.
PARENT CURRICULUM AND CHILD CURRICULUM. SO THEY COME FOR 3 HOURS.
WHILE THE PROGRAM IS FREE, THEY ARE VOLUNTEERING THEIR HOURS EVERY DAY.
>> I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD WHO GOES TO PRESCHOOL. I'M EXPECTING MY SECOND.
MINE HAS BEEN IN SCHOOL NOW FOR A YEAR AND WE'VE SEEN SUCH AMAZING DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENTAL
GROWTH THIS HIM. WHEN HE STARTED SCHOOL, HE WAS BARELY SPEAKING.
AND NOW IS A CHATTER BOX. SHARING WITH OTHER KIDS, KNOWING HOW TO INTERACT
IN A CLASSROOM, HOW TO SIT AND HAVE SHARING TIME, HOW TO FOLLOW IN INSTRUCTIONS.
THOSE ARE THINGS YOU DON'T NECESSARILY LEARN WHEN YOU'RE AT HOME.
THINKING ABOUT THE STORIES AT THE TABLE, WE SEE FROM THE RESEARCH ALSO, HUGE EQUITY ISSUES
BECAUSE FAMILIES WHO CAN AFFORD TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO PRESCHOOL IN THIS STATE DO.
BUT MANY OF OUR FAMILIES, WORKING FAMILIES, IT'S A HUGE STRUGGLE.
WHEN THE AVERAGE MONTHLY COST IS $720 A MONTH PER CHILD IN MANY PEOPLE HAVE MORE THAN ONE
CHILD UNDER FIVE, THAT'S HUGE. SO WE HAVE THIS GIANT GAP THAT'S EVEN GROWING.
WHERE THOSE OF US WHO ARE ABLE TO SACRIFICE AND PUT TOGETHER A PRESCHOOL TUITION DO BECAUSE
WE SEE THE VALUE IN IT. A LOT OF FAMILIES SIMPLY CANNOT.
THEY'RE TRYING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. PAY RENT AND WE HAVE BEEN HEARING THAT FROM
SO MANY FAMILIES SAYING I SENT ONE CHILD TO PRESCHOOL AND SAW HOW AMAZING IT WAS AND I
DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO SEND MY NEXT KID AND WORRIED THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE READY.
THAT CONCERNS ME FROM A EQUITY STANDPOINT THAT NOT ALL OF OUR KIDS ARE STARTING OUT
FROM THE SAME PLACE WHEN THEY GET TO KINDERGARTEN >>DAN: DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN
ARRIVE AT EQUITY? AS I UNDERSTAND IT, SAID THIS MANY TIMES ON
THE SHOW, EVERY TIME WE SHOW THE RESULTS OF WHERE SCHOOLS ARE, THEY COME UP WITH, YOU
KNOW, I'M HAPPY TO READ THEM AND HAPPY TO SEE SOME SCHOOLS DOING BETTER BUT YOU COULD
HAVE HAD 80% OF THEM, MUCH BETTER THAN MARCH MADNESS, BECAUSE ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS LOOK
WHERE PEOPLE HAVE MONEY WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE MONEY.
WHERE PEOPLE HAVE MONEY, THOSE SCHOOLS DO WELL.
WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY, THEY DON'T DO WELL.
IS GRADE SCHOOL GOING TO CHANGE THAT? >> WE THINK SO.
THAT'S WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS. IT'S ONE OF THE INDICATORS.
YOU HAVE THE KIDS WHO COME FROM WEALTHIER COMMUNITIES GET ACCESS TO THOSE SORTS OF EARLY
LEARNING EXPERIENCES >>DAN: I WAS READING ABOUT THE FADE OUT EFFECT.
IT HAS IMMEDIATE RESULTS BUT THEN THAT FADES OUT
IN FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. >> THAT RESEARCH HEAD START ABOUT ABOUT FADE
OUT FOUND UNFORTUNATELY THEY DIDN'T LOOK CLEARLY AT THE RESEARCH BECAUSE RESEARCH SAYS THAT
HEAD START WORKS. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE, YOU ALSO HAVE TO HAVE
A QUALITY KINDERGARTEN, FIRST GRADE SECOND GRADE, THIRD GRADE, AND OF COURSE, OBAMA IS
REALLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THROUGH REFORM, THAT HEADSTART PROGRAMS REALLY ARE MORE ACCOUNTABLE
>> SO IT WORKS. >> I'M A HEADSTART BABY AND THERE WAS NO FADE
OUT. I'M JUST KIDDING.
I REALLY WAS A HEADSTART BABY AND I HOPE THAT THERE WASN'T FADE OUT.
BUT IN OUR PROGRAMS, WE HAVE FOLLOWED OUR CHILDREN THROUGH THIRD GRADE AND WE DIDN'T
EXPERIENCE THE FADE OUT. VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE RESEARCH ON HEAD START ALSO.
THINGS THAT THEY DIDN'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION. WE HAVE STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT OUTCOMES
FOR KIDS IN OUR PROGRAMS MEANING THAT THEY HAVE HUGE GAINS AND AND THINGS THAT ARE INDICATERS
OF THIRD GRADE READING SCORES AND WE FOLLOW THEM UP IN THIRD GRADE AND THEY HAVE MAINTAINED
THOSE GAINS. >>DAN: PRESCHOOL LIKE SO MANY OTHER THINGS
SOMEONE WANTS TO KNOW, WOULD BE GREAT. HOWEVER, SHOULDN'T WE FOCUS OUR LIMITED RESOURCES
ON BASIC K 12. IT'S LIKE GIVING EVERY KID A LAPTOP.
IT'S NICE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE BASICS? WILL THE BASICS BE SHORTCHANGED AS A RESULT
OF THIS?
I DON'T BELIEVE SO. AS KEITH WAS MENTIONING, IF YOU WANT TO STRENGTHEN
THE K 12 PIPELINE, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN THEY START READY, THEY'RE READY FOR SCHOOL.
THIS IS REALLY THE BEST WAY TO MAKE A STRONG INVESTMENT.
THIS IS NOT TO SAY WE'RE NEGATING THE K 12 PIPELINE.
WE CAN DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS MAKING SURE THEY'RE READY TO SCHOOL
WHEN THEY START KINDERGARTEN. YOU TALK TO KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS
AND THEY WILL TELL YOU WHEN ONE GOES THROUGH A QUALITY PRESCHOOL SETTING AND ENTERS KINDERGARTEN
READY TO LEARN, THAT MAKES ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE ABLE TO READ
AT GRADE LEVEL BY THIRD GRADE AND REALLY HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED REGARDLESS
OF INCOME, REGARDLESS OF COMMUNITY THEY LIVE IN.
THAT'S THE EQUALIZER. I THINK OF MYSELF.
BORN TO TEENAGE PARENTS AND THANKS PROBABLY TO MY GRANDPARENTS AND TWO VERY ENGAGED PARENTS
WHO REALLY CARED ABOUT ME, STARTING PRESCHOOL AT THE AGE OF 2, I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE GAME
CHANGER FOR ME IN MY LIFE. THAT MADE THE HUGE DIFFERENCE WHEN I STARTED
KINDERGARTEN AT KANEOHE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VERSUS IF I HADN'T THAT HAD KIND OF EXPERIENCE
DURING THE VERY FORMATIVE YEARS, EARLIER YEARS OF MY LIFE.
I DEFINITELY FEEL IF WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN THAT K 12 PIPELINE AND NOT SHORTCHANGE THEM
BY THE WAY, THAT WE MAKE SURE THOSE BABIES ARE READY FOR SCHOOL WHEN THEY START KINDERGARTEN.
>> YOU MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT THE AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS. IT IS ONE OF THE FEW FIELD
LEVELERS. ONLY WAY YOU CAN GIVE SOMEONE WHO IS COMING
IN WITHOUT ANY INFLUENCE VERSUS AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOOD A CHANCE TO BE EQUAL.
IT GETS THEM EQUAL COMING OFF THAT FIELD. IF YOU DON'T, THEY'RE STARTING FURTHER BEHIND.
ONCE YOU HIT SCHOOL, NOT ONE OF THE TOP IN THE CLASS, YOU BECOME SHY, QUIET, RESERVED
FALL FURTHER BEHIND. THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW THINGS WE CAN DO TO
LEVEL THE GAME UP FRONT. >>DAN: YEAH.
I'M NOT A PRESCHOOL BABY. I'M NOT EVEN A KINDERGARTEN BABY.
WE CAN TELL. >>DAN: NEITHER ARE MY TWO BROTHERS.
WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN EAST GARY, INDIANA.
WE ONLY HAD 7 DEGREES BETWEEN US. NONE OF US EVER WENT TO JAIL OR SHACKLED THAT
I KNOW OF. WE ALL HAD JOBS.
I WAS A COLLEGE PROFESSOR. I'M NOT SURE YOU CAN CALL THAT A JOB.
GOOD FUN. BUT I MEAN, THE THING THAT I CAN SEE DIFFERENT
ABOUT IT WAS THAT THERE WAS A MOTHER WHO WAS HOME ON ONE INCOME.
EVEN A BUTCHER, WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT US. AND SHE, I GUESS SHE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH
US. I DON'T REMEMBER THAT WELL.
BUT I REMEMBER BEING READ TO AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT YOU'RE ARGUING YOU WOULD ARGUE THAT YOU NEED, EVEN IF YOU COME FROM A BACKGROUND WHERE
THERE'S A SINGLE PARENT AT HOME WHO'S REALLY DEDICATED TO HELPING YOU OUT, YOU'RE GOING
TO NEED THAT PRESCHOOL? >> YOU DO.
WELL, AS FAR AS THE WORK FORCE, ABOUT 62% OF OUR MOTHERS ARE WORKING.
BUT THE OTHER PART IS TODAY'S DIFFERENT. THERE'S REALLY, WE KNOW MORE ABOUT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
RESEARCH SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE ARE THE WE KNOW THESE YEARS ARE THE FORMATIVE
YEARS. WE WANT TO MAKE SPECIAL, MAKE SURE WE TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THAT BECAUSE IT MAKES A WHOLE HUGE DIFFERENCE.
>> I THINK THAT IT IS A GENERATIONAL THING. WHAT THE DEMANDS ARE, CURRENTLY, ECONOMICALLY,
FOR FAMILIES AND JUST SHEER NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT GO TO WORK.
SAME THING CAN BE SAID ABOUT COLLEGE DEGREES. ONLY ONE QUARTER OF THE WORK FORCE NEEDED
A COLLEGE DEGREE IF YOU GRADUATED IN THE 70'S. AND NOW, IF YOU GRADUATED IN THE THIS GENERATION,
BASICALLY, 2/3 OF THE JOBS REQUIRE COLLEGE DEGREES.
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AT TIMES >>DAN: CALL FROM D.O.E. KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
CONCERN ABOUT STAFFING. WILL THE CURRENT D.O.E. TEACHERS WHO ARE CERTIFIED
TO TEACH KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 6 BE DISPLACED BY CREDENTIALED PRESCHOOL TEACHERS?
IF SO, THAT WILL RESULT IN MASSIVE LAYOFFS OF DOE TEACHERS.
SUSAN IN MILILANI. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
>> I THINK THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT NOW THAT JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN WILL NO LONGER BE
THERE. >>DAN: JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN TAKES KIDS AT 4
>> SO THE JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN WERE OUR LATE BORN CHILDREN GOING TO KINDERGARTEN.
YEAH. SO THAT'S BEEN PART OF THE D.O.E.
NOW IT'S GOING TO BECOME A PUBLIC PRIVATE SYSTEM WITH THE PROPOSAL UP FRONT.
SO THE D.O.E. CAN PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTRACT WITH THE D.O.E.
AND D.O.E. PRINCIPALS, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW, THAT ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING A PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM ON THEIR CAMPUS. >> MY UNDERSTANDING ALSO IS IT'S JUST THE
FIRST YEAR THAT THOSE 5100 WON'T BE THERE BECAUSE THE COHORT WILL BE COMPLETE.
SO IT'S JUST REALLY ONE YEAR. SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE TEACHER TURNOVER,
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKELY WITH THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS THAT ALL HAVE TO BE REPLACED YEAR
AFTER YEAR, THAT ANYBODY THAT'S ALREADY IN THE D.O.E. SYSTEM WILL ACTUALLY HAVE A POSITION.
>> THE IMPORTANT PART TO NOTE IS THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY TO PROVIDE SOME COMFORT AND
ASSURANCE TO THIS PARTICULAR TEACHER, THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'RE VERY MUCH AWARE
OF THAT'S OF CONCERN ESPECIALLY THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME WHEN THAT
YEAR HITS AND WE HAVE LESS KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS ENTERING THE CLASSROOMS AND THEY'RE WORRIED
ABOUT THE WEIGHTED STUDENTS FORMULA AND WILL THEIR JOBS BE IMPACTED.
THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES TERRY IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF.
WE'RE TALKING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN TERMS OF HOW DO SCHOOLS DEAL WITH THAT
EBB AND FLOW IN TERMS OF THEIR WEIGHTED STUDENT FORMULA SO WE HAVE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF THE
IMPACT. AS KANOE MENTIONED, WHILE YOU MAY HAVE LESS
STUDENTS COMING IN THAT FIRST YEAR, JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN SETS TO SUNSET, YOU WILL HAVE
THEM COMING IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR WHEN THEY ALL COME BACK IN.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE THIS AS THE CYCLE WILL GO. BUT IT IS BEING SERIOUSLY LOOKED AT AND ADDRESSED
SO WE CAN HELP ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS TRANSITION AND PHASE INTO THAT TIME PERIOD WITH THE LEAST
AMOUNT OF DISRUPTION. WE'RE VERY AWARE OF THE TEACHER CONCERNS IN
THAT PARTICULAR AREA. >>DAN: KATHRYN IN KANEOHE, FORMER PRESCHOOL
EDUCATOR NOW A PRINCIPAL FOUND THE AD OFFENSIVE. DEBORAH, THAT'S FOR YOU.
WHY IS THE GOVERNOR ELIMINATING JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN AND GOING TO PUBLIC PRIVATE PROGRAM THAT WILL
COST SOME PARENTS MONEY? WHY NOT EXPAND THE JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN?
I GUESS THAT'S ACTUALLY FOR HER. >> 2 PARTS.
>>DAN: LET'S START WITH OFFENSIVE AD. >> AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING, OUR PURPOSE
IN THIS CAMPAIGN WAS NOT TO OFFEND, BUT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO IT.
AND IT DID THAT. I THINK WE HAVE HAD EVERYONE FROM BUSSES DRIVERS
TO CLERKS AND CLERK AT CHECKOUT LINE AT THE GROCERY STORE WHEN I MENTIONED WHAT I DO,
I'VE SEEN THAT AD. I'M OUTRAGED, I HEARD WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW
STATES THAT DON'T HAVE PRESCHOOL. FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE PEOPLE TALKING
ABOUT IT. I'M OKAY IF A FEW PEOPLE ARE OFFENDED BECAUSE
WE WANTED TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY ISSUE. WE'RE NOT DOING RIGHT BY OUR KIDS RIGHT NOW
AND WE NEED TO START AND GET PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT IT.
SO FRANKLY, IF A FEW PEOPLE ARE OFFENDED, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IT STILL SO I'M OKAY.
>>DAN: DO YOU USE A SHACKLE AD TO GET PEOPLE TO COME TO YOUR HOTELS?
I DON'T THINK YOU DO THAT. >> WE DO SUNSCREEN AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT BRINGS UP AN EXCELLENT POINT. YOU HAVE A TEACHER CALL IN, YOU HAVE PARENTS
CALLING IN. WHO SPEAKS FOR THE CHILDREN?
WHO IS SPEAKING? LEGISLATRE AND THERE ARE THE KUPUNA THERE AND WORRIED ABOUT MEDICARE
AND OTHERS, WHICH IS THEY'RE ALL NEEDED PROGRAM AND IT'S GOOD THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THEM.
BUT WHO SPEAKS FOR CHILDREN? WHO SPEAKS FOR THAT 3 AND 4 YEAR OLD WHO SAYS,
GIVE ME THE RIGHT START. GIVE ME EARLY EDUCATION.
LET ME GET AHEAD. AS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
OFFENDS A FEW PEOPLE OR SHAKES A FEW THINGS UP, GOOD.
BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS TO SPEAK FOR THE KIDS. >>DAN: DAVID FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES, CONSERVATIVE
COLUMNIST, HAS LONG WRITTEN THERE'S BEEN A BIG SHIFT AND WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE NATION'S
RESOURCES, THEY'VE GONE TO OLDER PEOPLE AND AWAY FROM KIDS.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE POINT THAT YOU'RE MAKING. WHO SPEAKS FOR THEM?
BOY, WE CAN GET THE AARP UP HERE. DON'T YOU WORRY.
THEY'LL COME EVERY TIME. JENNIFER ON THE BIG ISLAND, CURRENT STATE
LAW HAWAII STATE LAW REQUIRES PARENTS TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN ENROLLED IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
SCHOOL BY AGE 6. WILL THE PROPOSED BILL MANDATE THAT THE CHILDREN
TO BE ENROLLED AT AN EARLIER AGE OR WILL IT BE OPTIONAL?
>> WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THIS IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM.
SO IT IS VOLUNTARY FOR FAMILIES. WON'T BE A MANDATED PROGRAM.
>>DAN: WILL THERE BE ENOUGH TRAINED AND QUALIFIED TEACHER TO THE TRAIN ALL PRESCHOOLERS IN HAWAI'I?
WILL QUALITY FALL IF EVERYONE IS IN PRESCHOOL? I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THAT.
LLOYD FROM WAIANAE WANTS TO KNOW. WHAT'S THE PLAN?
>> THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT DEFINITELY TERRY IS WORKING ON, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE THE WORK FORCE CAPACITY AS WELL. TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT
SKILLED WORK FORCE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE OUR PRESCHOOLERS WITH THOSE TEACHERS AND AIDS
TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS. SHE'S WORKING WITH THE POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS
TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE WORK FORCE BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A CAPACITY ISSUE.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE REALLY PHASING THIS PROGRAM IN AND NOT JUST DOING IT ALL AT ONE TIME.
SOME WOULD SAY, LET'S DO ALL 4 YEAR OLDS ALL AT ONE TIME VERSUS JUST THE LATE BORNS.
THIS PHASED IN APPROACH IS REALLY THE PRUDENT APPROACH SO WE CAN START TO WALK BEFORE WE
RUN. AND TERRY IS WORKING ON LOOKING AT CAPACITY
ISSUES FROM A WORK FORCE PERSPECTIVE, FUNDING AS WELL AS LOOKING AT PROVIDERS AND FACILITIES.
SO THE WORK FORCE ONE IS SOMETHING SHE'S WORKING WITH OUR POST SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS AS WE
SPEAK AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE READY WHEN THE TIME COMES.
>>DAN: I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I THINK YOU GUYS ARE DEFINITELY GIVING EARLY EDUCATION
AND THE KIDS A VOICE. I'M JOKING ABOUT YOUR AD, BUT WE'VE CERTAINLY
ALL BECOME AWARE IN THE LAST YEAR. BIG TIME.
BIG TIME. SINCE LAST YEAR.
WILL THE PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCE OFFER YOU OPTIONS TO FAMILY OTHER THAN JUST DROP OFF PRESCHOOL?
>> YEAH. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROMOTING.
WE NEED TO MEET FAMILIES WHERE THEY ARE AND SO FAMILY CHILDHOOD INTERACTIVE LEARNING PROGRAMS,
KEIKI STEPS PROGRAM AND KEIKI O KA AINA PARENT PARTICIPATION PRESCHOOLS AND PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT,
THAT OPTION WHERE FAMILIES COME WITH THEIR CHILD BECAUSE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, CULTURALLY,
THEY DON'T WANT TO DROP THEIR CHILD OFF WITH SOMEONE ELSE, THEY WANT THEIR CHILDREN WITH
THEM. OR THEY WANT GRANDMA TAKING CARE OF THEM BUT
THEY WANT THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEIR KIDS CAN GET READY FOR SCHOOL.
SO THERE ARE OPTIONS THAT WE'RE PROMOTING IN THE LEGISLATIVE BILLS.
>> YES. YOU WANT TO HEAR MORE?
I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO OFFER MORE. >> THE OPTIONS ARE NOT ONLY THE DIFFERENT
KIND OF SETTINGS BUT ALSO WHERE THEY ARE. SO THERE ARE FAMILIES CERTAINLY THAT WOULD
PREFER JUST DROP OFF AND MANY FAMILIES NEED THE DROP OFF BECAUSE OF THEIR WORK SCHEDULE.
BUT SOMETIMES FAMILIES DON'T WANT THAT. WE'RE LOOKING AT FAMILY CHOICE AND OVER TIME,
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE SETTINGS HAVE THE SAME KIND OF PROGRAM CRITERIA AND
QUALIFICATIONS SO THERE'S QUALITY ACCROSS THE BOARD.
>>DAN: SOMEWHERE I READ THAT PRESENT SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATES THAT DO HAVE THEM ARE REALLY NOT, THEY'RE CURRENTLY
FRAGMENTED ONE OF THE CRITICISMS THAT THEY'RE UNDERFUNDED, UNDER FINANCED AND VERY BUREAUCRATIC.
HOW DO WE GET AROUND ALL OF THOSE CRITICISMS AND CREATING A NEW ONE?
YOU'RE SAYING WE HAVE ALL OF THESE OTHER EXAMPLES. HOW DO WE GET AROUND THAT
>> AS JILL SAID, WE HAVE LOTS OF OTHER EXAMPLES FROM OTHER STATES.
AS FAR AS CREATING, THERE NEEDS TO BE STANDARDS, CURRICULUM, TEACHERS NEED TO BE QUALIFIED,
SO IT IS PUTTING IN ABOVE JUST HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ALL THE WAY AROUND.
AS FAR AS NOT MAKING IT BUREAUCRATIC, I THINK IT'S PERSON TO PERSON AND RELATIONSHIPS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE KEY THINGS IN EARLY EDUCATION IS RELATIONSHIP BUILDING.
AND YEAH, HOW ARE WE GOING TO WORK AROUND THE RED TAPE.
MAKE IT AS FRIENDLY AS POSSIBLE, SEAMLESS AS POSSIBLE FOR FAMILIES AND FOR CHILDREN,
AND STAFF. >>DAN: WILL THE PROPOSED STATEWIDE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM SERVE ALL AREAS INCLUDING THOSE FAMILIES WHO LIVE IN RURAL NEIGHBORHOODS?
WHAT NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITIES ARE PARENT PARTICIPATION PRESCHOOLS IN AT THE MOMENT,
I GUESS IT MEANS. DOES THE LEGISLATION DEAL WITH THAT?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS GOING TO BE A STATEWIDE PROGRAM.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO LEAVE ANY PARTICULAR COMMUNITY BEHIND.
SO TERRY AND HER TEAM ARE DEFINITELY LOOKING AT HOW DO WE ACCOUNT FOR THE UNIQUENESS IN
VARIOUS COMMUNITIES AND ESPECIALLY THOSE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE MAY NOT HAVE AS MANY PROVIDERS WHERE
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT DIFFERENT FACTORS AND DIFFERENT PROVIDER SITUATIONS.
THE BUREAUCRACY QUESTION THAT WAS JUST THERE, I THINK THE UNIQUENESS ABOUT THIS AND WHAT'S
GOING TO SET US APART FROM OTHER STATES IS THE FACT THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ARE
TAKING A VERY PRUDENT APPROACH. WE'RE STARTING IN PHASES.
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. WE'RE NOT JUST LEAPING TO TRY TO DO EVERYTHING
AT ONCE. WE'RE REALLY TAKING THIS IN A PHASED IN APPROACH
AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO DO THIS RIGHT.
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. WE'RE ALSO REALLY HEAVY ON THE PRIVATE PUBLIC
PARTNERSHIP ASPECT. WE'RE LEARNING FROM THE PRIVATE PROVIDERS
THAT HAVE LITERALLY BEEN DOING THIS, FOR 30, 40, 50 YEARS IN HAWAII.
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR TO US KNOW THAT GOVERNMENT DOESN'T KNOW IT ALL AND DON'T LET
ME COLLEAGUES HEAR ME STAY THAT. WE ARE EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING
WITH OUR PRIVATE PROVIDERS TO PUT THIS SYSTEM TOGETHER AND DO IT RIGHT FOR THE CHILDREN.
AND MAKE SURE THAT AT THE CENTER AND THE CORE OF ALL OF THIS IS MAKING SURE THAT THOSE STUDENTS
AND THOSE CHILDREN HAVE THE BEST QUALITY PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCE
THEY CAN TO SHOW THEY'RE READY FOR SCHOOL. >>DAN: DO EMPLOYERS TALK TO THEIR EMPLOYEES
ABOUT PRESCHOOL? BECAUSE IF YOU GO TO HOTELS, YOU SEE A AWFUL
LOT OF YOUNG EMPLOYEES WHO I IMAGINE HAVE CHILDREN.
DO YOU PROVIDE SORT OF NURSERY THINGS NOW OR DO YOU ASK THEM OR SURVEY THEM ABOUT WHAT
THEY WANT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION? >> YEAH, EACH HOTEL HAS THEIR GENERAL ASSEMBLY
MEETINGS WITH EMPLOYEES AND TRY TO LOOK AT WHAT ISSUES ARE OUT THERE, HEALTH CARE, AGING
WORK FORCE, THINGS GET MORE COMPLICATED, TECHNOLOGY, ET CETERA.
WHAT YOU HEAR FROM THE YOUNG WORKERS IS THE ISSUE OF CONCERN ON PRESCHOOL.
MANY TIMES, THEY'RE WORKING 2, 3 JOBS AND NONE OF THEM ARE FULL TIME.
SO YOU'RE WORKING 20 HOURS, 20 HOURSS, 20 HOURS AND BOTH PARTNERS OF THE COUPLE ARE
DOING THAT. HOW IS THAT.
GRANDMA IS HELPING. IF YOU'RE YOUNG, GRANDPARENTS ARE PROBABLY
HELPING. IS THAT THE ENVIRONMENT THAT GETS THEM READY
IN KINDERGARTEN? YES, PART OF THEIR EDUCATION BUT CAN'T BE
THE ONLY THING. YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALONG WITH THAT, SET REGIMENT,
CURRICULUM YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, INTERACTION OF THE STUDENTS WITH EACH OTHER AN THEN WHAT
THEY LEARN FROM THEIR KUPUNA AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS MATCH UP NICELY.
>>DAN: WHAT ABOUT HOME SCHOOLERS? >> HOME SCHOOLING, I MEAN, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT FAMILIES HAVE CHOICES AND THERE ARE MANY FAMILIES THAT WANT TO STAY HOME AND
CAN. AS YOU MENTIONED, MAYBE, WELL, I WAS THINKING
ABOUT MY DAUGHTER WHO IS ACTUALLY WORKING PART TIME AND HOME PART TIME BECAUSE SHE HAS
A SMALL BABY AND A 3 YEAR OLD. BUT SHE'S LEARNING HOW TO ALSO PROVIDE SOME
ACTIVITIES THAT ARE STIMULATING FOR HER CHILDREN. SO HOME SCHOOLING IS STILL AN OPTION FOR FAMILIES.
>> NOT MANDATORY PROGRAM. PEOPLE WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE HOME SCHOOL
AND HAVE THE LUXURY OF BEING HELP TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN GROW AND LEARN, THEY ARE PROVIDED
THAT OPPORTUNITY. >>DAN: KANOE, SOMEONE CALLED IN AND SAID THE
LOWER STATISTIC IS IN COMMUNITIES WITH HIGH POPULATIONS OF NATIVE HAWAIIANS.
TRULY TRAGIC. DOES THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY NEED PRESCHOOL
MORE THAN OTHER COMMUNITIES? >> NO.
THAT'S INTERESTING. I THINK EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW HOW KIDS LEARN
AND HOW KIDS DEVELOP AND I THINK THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY AMAZING STRENGTHS AND ASSETS THAT
LIE IN THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY WITH KUPUNA TAKING CARE OF THE GRANDCHILDREN,
WITH THE STORIES THAT ARE SHARED, WITH FISHING AND HUNTING AND ALL KINDS OF WONDERFUL ACTIVITIES
THAT ACTUAL HELP KIDS GET READY FOR SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY BUILD THOSE HIGHER LEVEL THINKING,
COGNITIVE, THOSE HIGHER LEVEL THINKING SKILLS AND BUILD THE BRAIN CONNECTIONS.
BUT IT'S A MATTER OF MAYBE LIKE EVERYBODY, ROUTINES ARE IMPORTANT.
OR NUTRITION IS IMPORTANT. IT'S ABOUT ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S AN ETHNIC THING. BUT I DO THINK THAT CULTURALLY, NATIVE HAWAIIANS
HAVE A TENDENCY TO WANT TO KEEP THEIR BABIES CLOSE TO THEM.
SO AND I WANT TO BE WITH MY BABIES. SO IT'S HAVING THE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP YOUR
KIDS GET READY FOR SCHOOL AND UNDERSTANDING HOW KIDS LEARN SO THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES. >>DAN: DEBORAH, WHAT ABOUT WHAT IS YOUR NEXT AD?
I'M STILL WORRIED ABOUT YOU. WHAT'S NEXT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO KEEP YOU GUESSING. >>DAN: HOW ARE YOU FINANCING THIS?
ARE ARE BUSINESS PEOPLE COMING THROUGH TO HELP YOU?
>> YES. WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY COME FORWARD WHO HAVE BEEN BACKING EARLY CHILDHOOD AND SEEN THE
IMPORTANCE FOR YEARS. THEY'VE PUT SOME MONEY TOWARDS THE CAMPAIGN.
BUSINESS CENTER IS COMING FORWARD. AMAZING GROUP THAT HAVE ALL PUT IN BITS AND
PIECES TO PUT IT TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY'RE SEEING THIS IS SOMETHING OUR STATE NEEDS TO
DO. SO MANY AT THE TABLE, ESPECIALLY BUSINESS SECTOR FOLKS ARE SAYING, WE TALK ABOUT SO
MANY PROBLEMS IN OUR STATE. WE TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.
WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMY AND JOBS AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PIECES WHERE WE CAN TRULY BE
PREVENTIVE. SO THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT OPTION.
THIS IS THE WAY WE CAN CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR STATE.
THAT'S, WE'RE NOT JUST DOING ADS. WE'RE DOING WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
MAJORITY OF OUR WORK IS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND PRESCHOOLS AN WITH
FAMILIES AND JUST MOBILIZING THEM TO HAVE MORE OF A VOICE AND SHARE THEIR STORIES ABOUT
WHY THEY THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT. >> ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE RANDY PERERRA
FROM THE PUBLIC WORKERS UNION. CASTLE FOUNDATION HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK.
KAMEHAMEHA BESIDE PUT A LOT OF MANPOWER, BUT A LOT OF FUNDING.
A CROSS SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY IS OUT THERE SAYING THIS IS ABOUT TIME WE GET THIS GOING
BECAUSE THE PRIVATE SIDE FEELS IT'S BEEN DOING MOST OF THE LEG WORK AND NOW, WE WANT TO GET
A PARTNERSHIP GOING, GET PARENTS INVOLVED AND GET THIS MOVING FORWARD.
>>DAN: I FIND MYSELF FROM A POLITICAL POINT OF VIEW, THINKING ABOUT SORT OF THE BIG TICKET
STUFF. OBAMA HAS TALKED ABOUT OBAMA CARE, HEALTH
CARE FOR EVERYBODY. NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EARLY EDUCATION FOR
EVERYBODY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND EVEN THOUGH WE THROW THE NUMBER AROUND
THAT ONLY 11 STATES DON'T HAVE IT, BUT SOME OF THIS THE STATES HAVE IT AREN'T DOING THAT
WELL AND HAVE PROBLEMS. LITERATURE SAYS THAT.
SOME OF THEM AREN'T DOING THAT WELL. THESE ARE BIG SORT OF CHANGE THE REAL, I HATE
TO USE THAT WORD, PARADIGM. WE SAY THAT IN POLITICAL SCIENCE CLASS.
CHANGING THE PARADIGM KIND OF MOVES. REALLY CHANGE THE, AND I WONDER IF THERE'S
POLITICAL WILL WHEN WE GOT PEOPLE UP THERE ABOUT TO SEQUESTER $85 BILLION TOMORROW.
RIGHT? >> ABSOLUTELY.
>>DAN: TOMORROW. $85 BILLION.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> TRILLION DOLLAR QUESTION.
>>DAN: THAT'S TRUE. OUT OF 3.7 TRILLION.
85 BILLION. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE GRIDLOCK WHERE THEY
CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANYTHING DONE. SO I WONDER ABOUT THE POLITICAL POSSIBILITIES
OF MAKING THINGS THIS BIG. >> YET I TAKE A LOOK AT HAWAI'I AND HOW FAR
WE'VE COME AND THIS MOVEMENT AND IT'S BEEN AROUND PROBABLY AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ALIVE
IN TERMS OF HOW LONG THE ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGHT FOR THIS AND YOU LOOK AT THEIR
FACES FOR SOME OF THEM AND THEY'RE REALLY THINKING, ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO DO IT THIS
TIME BECAUSE HOW MANY YEARS HAVE WE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO INVEST THIS TIME. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY DIFFERENT FORCES
COME TO THE TABLE AND SAY, THE TIME IS NOW. AS WAS MENTIONED.
FROM LABOR, TO BUSINESS, TO THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY, PROSECUTOR COMING AND SAYING, I'M
TIRED OF PUTTING PEOPLE IN JAIL. LET'S SAVE LIVES NOW.
LET'S START INVESTING EARLY WITH KEITH KANESHIRO TESTIFYING IN OUR COMMITTEE.
I GET THE SAME OLD SAME OLD TESTIFYING IN FRONT OF ME USUALLY WHICH IS FINE.
BUT TO HAVE A PACKED ROOM OF MOST DIVERSE PEOPLE COMING UP AND SAYING, THE TIME IS NOW.
LET'S INVEST. PUT THE POLITICAL AND PUBLIC WILL ON THE TABLE
AND DO EARLY LEARNING. THAT'S A SIGN TO ME, ALL THE PARADIGM SHIFTS
AND BIG MOVING PARTS, THAT PERHAPS THE STARS ARE ALIGNING FOR EARLY LEARNING IN HAWAI'I
AND THE TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY IS NOW FOR US TO ACTUALLY DO THIS.
>>DAN: IT'S PRETTY DIVERSE AND IMPRESSIVE. WHAT TYPES OF ACTIVITIES CAN FAMILY EXPECT
TO PARTICIPATE IN DURING A TYPICAL PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCE?
>> EITHER ONE OF US. WELL, FOR ONE THING, AS KANOE MENTIONED, PARENTS
ARE LEARNING WITH THEIR CHILD. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY WONDERFUL
IS FOR PARENTS TO BE READING TO THEIR CHILDREN AND BEING ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS AND THEN
BE ABLE TO EVEN PARTICIPATE, VOLUNTEER, DO THINGS AT HOME, SO WE REALLY WANT TO KEEP
THEM AS PARTNERS. >> IF YOU'RE AT ONE OF OUR SITES DURING THE
DAY, FAN TABLES SET UP, AREAS TO PAINT, THERE'S PLACES TO PLAY WITH BUBBLES, THERE'S DANCING
THAT HAPPENS IN WATERING OF PLANTS, WITH SCIENCE CENTERS, MATH CENTER, PARENTS WHO DO THE ACTIVITIES
WITH THEIR KIDS. JUST A WHOLE VARIETY OF THINGS.
OF COURSE, READING IS IMPORTANT. SONGS, RHYMING, CIRCLE TIME, MATH, ALL THE
GOOD FUN STUFF. >> ALSO LEARNING TIME FOR PARENTS.
THE THING THAT KIND OF SHOCKED ME, I WAS AN OLD PARENT, WAS THAT YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR
KID'S FRIENDS PARENTS ARE GOING TO BE YOUR FRIENDS FOR LIFE.
SO THAT'S LEARNING EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE IN THE LEARNING INTERACTION IN SCHOOL.
15 YEARS LATER, THOSE PARENTS ARE GOOD FRIENDS OF OURS.
LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND SHARE EXPERIENCES. THAT'S BENEFICIAL.
>>DAN: MY KIDS GREW UP TELLING THEM THIS WAS THEIR GRANDPA.
HOW MUCH SHOULD A PARENT, I GUESS WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN SOME BASIC LIKE THIS.
HOW MUCH CAN PARENT EXPECT TO SPEND IN TIME AND MONEY FOR LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR EACH
CHILD? DOES IT VARY VERY MUCH IN THE PLANNING AND
SO FORTH. >> CURRENTLY, THE AVERAGE COST FOR A MONTH
OF PRESCHOOL IN HAWAI'I IS $720 A MONTH. >>DAN: $720 A MONTH?
8, 9 MONTHS? >>BILLY V: WORKING PARENTS, 12 MONTHS.
RIGHT? UNLESS YOU GET THE SUMMER OFF.
>>DAN: I DON'T DO MATH REAL FAST. I DIDN'T GO TO PRESCHOOL.
9,000 BUCKS OR SO. YES.
PROPOSED IS TO START OFFERING SUBSIDIES. SO PARENTS WILL HAVE SOME STAKE IN THAT.
BUT THAT IT BE LESSENED. NOT BE A CHOICE OF DO I PAY RENT THIS MUCH
OR SEND MY CHILD TO PRESCHOOL. >>DAN: WOULD THERE BE PEOPLE WHO WOULD PAY
EVERYTHING? >> YES.
THERE'S A PROPOSAL, IN THE PROPOSAL FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES, IT WILL BE NO COST TO THEM.
WE WANT THEM TO VOLUNTEER AND BE ENGAGED. MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES SLIDING FEE SCALE.
AS YOU GET TO THE UPPER OR HIGHER INCOME, FULL COST.
>>DAN: WE HAVE THIS SYSTEM IN HAWAI'I OF THIS PUBLIC PRIVATE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WHERE SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST IN THE SOCIETY WOULD NEVER DREAM OF SENDING THEIR KID TO
A PUBLIC PRESCHOOL. I MEAN, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE ONE THAT'S
RUN BY IOLANI OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. RIGHT?
>> IT'S COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY PROGRAM. SO AGAIN, IF YOU WANT TO SEND YOUR CHILD ON
YOUR OWN AT YOUR OWN EXPENSE, THAT'S COMPLETELY UP TO YOU AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE
TAX CREDITS YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHEN IT COMES TO TAX TIME THAT ARE GREAT AFTER
YOU PAID ALL OF THAT TUITION AS WELL. BUT AGAIN, I THINK WHEN WE'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH TERRY ON THE SYSTEM AND THAT THAT SHE'S PUTTING INTO PLACE, IT REALLY IS ABOUT MAKING
SURE THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE WORKING FAMILIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH THOSE MONTHLY
COSTS, LIKE RENT, LIKE THE UTILITY BILLS AND MAKING SOME VERY TOUGH DECISIONS AND SO THAT
SLIDING FEE SCALE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE LOWEST INCOME FAMILIES.
WHICH ACTUALLY NOW QUALIFY FOR SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS ALREADY.
BUT IT IS ABOUT REALLY TRYING TO ADDRESS THOSE GAP FAMILIES THAT HAVE REALLY FALLEN THROUGH
THE CRACKS IN RECENT YEARS AND MAKE SURE WE CAN COVER AS MANY FAMILIES AS POSSIBLE THROUGH
THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM WITH SOMETHING. MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS SOME KIND OF OPTION,
EVEN IF IT'S A PLACEMENT. SO IT REALLY IS ABOUT WORKING TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE TAKE CARE. KIDS THAT ARE IN PRESCHOOL FEEDER SCHOOLS,
PRIVATE SCHOOLER, THAT ISN'T THE PROBLEM. WE'RE HERE ABOUT ALL THE ONES THAT CAN'T GET
THERE WHICH IS THE MAJORITY OF THE STATE AND THEY NEED HELP AND HAVE THEIR KIDS BE ABLE
TO BE ON THE SAME FOOTING FROM THAT KID COMING OUT OF PRIVATE PRESCHOOL GOING INTO IOLANI,
WHATEVER SCHOOL IT IS. SO THAT THEY START ON A LEVEL FIELD.
AT THAT POINT, IF THEY GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOL, GREAT.
PRIVATE SCHOOL, GREAT BUT YOU'RE LEVEL AND NOT STARTING LIKE THIS.
>>DAN: WHAT IS THE CURRICULUM? WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THIS.
WHAT IS THE CURRICULUM? WHAT ARE THEY TEACHING THEM THAT PREPARES
THEM FOR SCHOOL WILL THEY BE TEACHING SUBJECTS? >> WELL, CHILDREN ARE REALLY INTERESTED AND
CURIOUS. SO WE LOOK AT CHILDREN'S INTERESTS.
BUT THE OTHER THING IS WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE CHILD.
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND WAYS TO GET ENGAGED IN INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT LIKE SCIENCE.
WE HAVE SUBJECTS THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN PRESCHOOL.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE INTERESTING TO CHILDREN THAT ARE CURIOUS ABOUT AND KEEP
THEM ENGAGED. >> I MEAN, ABSOLUTELY.
SCIENCE IS GROWING OR WATCHING A BUTTERFLY START OUT AS A OH, MY GOSH, COCOON, CHRYSALIS
AND >>DAN: YOU WENT TO PRESCHOOL?
(LAUGHTER) >>DAN: I CAN DO MATH.
>> WE'RE ALL DOOMED. >>DAN: ALL RIGHT.
>> YOU KNOW, RHYMING IS A PART OF LITERACY AND STORYTELLING OR STORY, YOU KNOW, EVEN
DRAMA AND PUTTING CLOTHES ON, THAT'S A PART OF, WHOLE SUBJECT AREA.
THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL FOR HIGHER LEVEL OF THINKING SKILLS.
>> ALSO RECOGNIZE PROBLEMS EARLIER. MAYBE THERE'S BAD NUTRITION, MAYBE THERE'S
LEARNING DISABILITIES. BUT IF YOU CAN GET TO IT EARLIER AND HELP
A STUDENT AND HELP A PARENT DEAL WITH THAT, MUCH BETTER THAN MAYBE GRANDMA OR SOME BABYSITTER
JUST PUTTING UP WITH IT. >> IT'S ACADEMIC SKILLS AND THE SOCIAL SKILLS.
IT'S ASSUMING MY SON THIS WEEK, HE'S JUST TURNED 3 IN DECEMBER, THIS WEEK, HE'S BEEN
WORKING IN HIS CLASS ON WRITING THE LETTERS B AND
W. AND TALKING WITH SOUNDS THE THEY MAKE AND
WORDS THAT START WITH B AND W. THEY'RE WORKING ON WRITING AND IDENTIFYING
IT AND KNOWING THE SOUNDS OF PREREADING SKILLS. AND AT THE SAME TIME, HE HAD AN INCIDENT THIS
WEEK WHERE HE THREW A CAR AT A FELLOW CHILD BECAUSE THE CHILD HAD KNOCKED DOWN HIS BLOCK
TOWER. AND SO HE'S ALSO LEARNING ON DEALING THIS
WEEK WITH THAT WHEN YOUR FRIEND DOES SOMETHING YOU DON'T LIKE, YOU DON'T CHUCK A MAXBOX CAR
AT THEM. SOCIAL SKILLS.
SCHOOL HAS BEEN WORKING WITH HIM ALSO ABOUT ALL OF THE KIDS ABOUT USING YOUR WORDS.
SOMETIMES THOSE ARE THE LIFE SKILLS THAT KIDS NEED TO LEARN EARLY ON.
SHARING. >> W WITH THE LETTERS.
>> AGAIN, I THINK THERE'S THOSE PIECES TOO, THOSE ARE THE CRITICAL PIECES TO ME AS A PARENT
THAT HE NEEDS TO LEARN ABOUT SHARING AND APPROPRIATE RESPONSES AND HOW TO BEHAVE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE TEENAGER DOWN THE LINE.
SO HE NEEDS TO LEARN NOW WHEN HE'S 3. >> I MAY WANT TO WARN YOU, YOU MAY VERY WELL
GET ONE. >>DAN: WE'VE GOT ABOUT 10 SECONDS EACH.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOUR BILL. >> YES.
WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO GET IT.
>>DAN: CAPABLE OF COMING UP WITH A GREAT PLAN? >> YES.
WE'RE GOING TO BE AT THE CAPITOL MARCH 14TH. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ABOUT A THOUSAND PEOPLE
DOWN THERE. 9:30 TO 12:30.
TALK WITH LEGISLATORS AND SAY, HEY, MAKE YOUR EARLY CHILDHOOD FIRST.
>>DAN: GOING TO MAKE IT DOWN? >> NEXT MONTH IS CRITICAL.
SO WE GET INTO BUDGET TIME. >>DAN: YOU'LL HAVE ANOTHER BILL I'M SURE.
>> GOING TO MAKE IT? >> ABSOLUTELY.
>>DAN: GOING TO MAKE IT >> YES.
>>DAN: TIME IS NOW. WE'RE OUT OF TIME AND I WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU TO ALL OF YOU. THERE'S A LOT OF INTERESTED TOPIC YOU CAN
TELL BIT STACK HERE. WE WANT TO SAY GOOD BYE TO A GUY WHO'S WORKED
HERE FOR A LONG TIME. MAHALO TO HIM.
DANIEL ARMITAGE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE CREW FOR 13 YEARS, DONE A GREAT JOB.
NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, EXPLORE THE OTHER END OF THE EDUCATIONAL SPECTRUM.
WE HEARD ABOUT RECENT PROBLEMS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I NEXT WEEK WE'LL TALK WITH U.H.
PRESIDENT MRC GREENWOOD WITH A MEMBER OF THE U.H. BOARD OF REGENTS AND WITH REPRESENTATIVES
OF HAWAI'I'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY'S MISSION AND PROGRESS AND THE
PROGRESS IT'S MADE IN ADVANCING THE STATE'S ECONOMY.
NEXT TIME ON INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I. I'M DAN BOYLAN.
A HUI HO.