Podcast: An Update on Demand for Public Pre-K in Chicago

Illinois’ public pre-K program — Preschool for All — has been considered a national model for several reasons, not the least because it uses community-based providers (like non-profit preschools and child care centers) and is considered to be of high quality. (According to quality criteria set by the National Institute for Early Education Research, the program hits 9 of 10 benchmarks.)

But how is it faring in a recession? Rebecca Harris, a reporter for Catalyst Chicago, has been following that story closely in the windy city.  For our third installment of our Early Ed Watch podcasts, we spoke with Rebecca about one of her recent stories on the inability of Preschool for All to meet demand in Chicago in light of current budget cuts. We also got her perspective on what is at root in public sentiments against the use of tools to evaluate children’s readiness for school.

Early Ed Watch podcast — March 8, 2010

An Update on the Demand for ‘Preschool for All’ in Chicago  

With our guest Rebecca Harris, Reporter for Catalyst Chicago