Deadly Bee's
By: Import User
Updated: March 16, 2007
Governor Mitch Daniels paid the tri-state a visit and got a first-hand look at
full-day kindergarten in action.The Governor addressed the crowd at the Warrick County Lincoln Day dinner for the first time ever Wednesday.
He then visited Joshua Academy in Evansville Thursday. The charter school already has students in the classroom all day and Governor Daniels wants to start a similar program in several schools throughout the state in the fall.
EVSC schools already decided to do full-day kindergarten long before the Governor signed it into law for the entire state. Daniels is more than happy to hear the EVSC is offering it to their students.
The Governor`s plan has already passed the Republican-controlled Senate authorizing a three-year-phase in of full day kindergarten. That bill just establishes a timeline.
Funding for the program has come from legislation passed by the Democrat-controlled House. Their proposal calls for $161 million to be allocated over two years for the project.
Thursday, Daniels predicted that lawmakers would agree on a bill soon and if all goes as planned, area schools, public and charter, will see the first signs of funding for low income students by August. That includes 71% of students enrolled at the Joshua Academy.
