NEWSPRESCHOOL

Some stories are a straightforward trajectory. A problem is identified. People gather around that problem and strive to change it. The change is made, and the people rejoice.

Others are a roller-coaster-like slog. And that's how it's been for Charlotte Mecklenburg's preschool program, Bright Beginnings. From the time that the school superintendent proposed cutting two-thirds of the slots for vulnerable preschool aged children to the district back in January, the ride has been bumpy. At certain points, the program seemed as good as saved, when the very next, it seemed doomed.

But victory has been declared! The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board announced that all Bright Beginnings classrooms will be saved. Local teachers, students and families are rejoicing.

Tuesday, May 10th is an important day for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district. It's the day where the school board will decide whether or not to ask for an additional $45 million from the county - money that would keep the school district from shutting down one of it's most successful early learning programs - Bright Beginnings.

Three months ago, Bright Beginnings teacher Michelle O'Reilly bravely stood up and asked her school district to save the program, despite budget cuts. Bright Beginnings serves thousands of Charlotte's most vulnerable students - kids who live in poverty, have learning disabilities and speak English as a second language.

"Without this program, these children are not going to become responsible citizens because they're going to be struggling," said O'Reilly.

She didn't stop there. O'Reilly gathered over 900 online signatures at Change.org and even more in her community. She's asked local groups and churches to come together on the issue and even stood up at a recent school board meeting to talk about how much the community needs Bright Beginnings.

After a month of organizing, Michelle O'Reilly stood up in front of the Charlotte Mecklenberg Board of Commissioners last night, telling them why they need to save, rather than axe, the early childhood education program she teaches for.

"When a society invests wisely in children and families, the next generation will pay that back through a lifetime of productivity and responsible citizenship," said O'Reilly "I want to live in a world- class Charlotte that truly showcases the best of American living for all of its citizens."

She brought with her 1,671 signatures, gathered online and by hand, from community members, showing their support for Bright Beginnings - a preschool program that serves Charlotte-Mecklenberg's neediest students and will lose 1,800 seats if a $10 million dollar proposed budget cuts moves forward. You can watch the video from the April 5 meeting here - O'Reilly speaks at 43:21.

On April 5th, Michelle O'Reilly will make her final plea for the children of Charlotte-Mecklenberg schools. She'll ask the County Commission to reconsider its massive proposed cuts to Bright Beginnings, a preschool program that helps struggling children get ready for kindergarten.

At the meeting, she'll present the hundreds of signatures gathered online at Change.org and by hand by community supporters. She'll let the Commissioners know that without Bright Beginnings, the community will suffer.

"Reading confidence and reading success is a very big predictor of high school graduation. And graduation rates have a direct correlation with incarceration," says O'Reilly, a Bright Beginnings teacher. "We can make children prepared to be strong readers and confident learners, as opposed to leading a life of crime."

The debate continues to rage in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district: is it worth funding an intensive pre-K program for students who come into school behind, or is it a waste of money?

Teacher Michelle O'Reilly, who's seen the success of Bright Beginnings over nine years, started a petition on Change.org when she heard her program would be cut in half - meaning 1800 fewer children would benefit from it next year.

But County Commissioner Bill James scoffed at O'Reilly's petition. Just hours after the petition was started, he criticized the idea that signers from all over the nation would get behind O'Reilly's push to save Bright Beginnings.

When Frederick County, Md. officials voted to cut all funding to the area's Head Start program in January, they didn't count on a movement springing up from local parents, teachers and community members to save the program.

Local resident Stefanie Cox created a petition to the board of commissioners that has become a rallying point for a growing group of people brainstorming on how best to support early education. Their outcry has led to a small amount of back-tracking on the commissioners' part, and they're working to go even farther. They've created an active Facebook group and wrote this letter to Change.org members, asking for our help:

Michelle O'Reilly remembers her student Ana's first day in her Bright Beginnings preschool class.

Ana didn't speak a word of English. She was nervous and timid. Coming from a Spanish-speaking family, it took weeks for her to get the courage to speak in class.

Ana is typical of the 4,200 kids served by Bright Beginnings each year in the Charlotte-Mecklenberg, North Carolina school district. Ninety percent get free or reduced price lunch. Many speak no English. All are at risk for academic problems. And if a $10 million budget cut for the program moves forward, many won't get the help they need.

Nine months later, when the school year ended, Michelle O'Reilly saw a different Ana - one that spoke in full, descriptive sentences, knew all her letters and could write her name. Ana's now in the third grade, and Michelle still sees her every day. Her former student often stops by to talk about what she's learning in class or the books she's reading.

When budgets are slim in Maryland, what's the first thing on the chopping block? Preschool for low-income children.

Late last month, county commissioners in Frederick, Maryland decided the best way to deal with a budget gap was to stop funding a Head Start program geared toward needy families. Now, community members are fighting to bring it back, fully funded - and asking for an apology for sexist comments made by county officials.

Head Start serves children ages 3 and 4 in families that fall below the federal poverty line ($22,050 in salary for a family of 4). This particular Head Start program serves almost 300 students annually and has existed for four decades. It also provides crucial medical and nutritional services. Aside from the children losing valuable education, the 80+ staff members also risk losing their jobs.

Monica Rodriguez loves taking her 4-year-old daughter Mikayla to the preschool at Riverdahl Elementary School in Rockford, Illinois.

"My daughter's teacher is the best teacher I've ever known," Rodriguez told Change.org. "She just loves it there."

But a few weeks ago, when she arrived at school to pick up her daughter, an unpleasant rumor was circulating among the parents: at the end of the year, the preschool program would close.

Rodriguez said the teachers both confirmed it - they had both gotten emails saying the program would be terminated at the end of the year.

Rodriguez isn't satisfied with that. She created a petition on Change.org to save the preschool. She wants the Riverdahl program to stay open for Mikayla and all the other neighborhood kids who need good early childhood education. Many working and single parents, she said, need programs like the one at Riverdahl and can't afford to send their child somewhere else.

Iowa Republicans want to use a $318 million surplus to pay for corporate tax breaks. But the problem is, next year's budget is going to be lean and mean with no stimulus funding. So, to give corporations some cash, Iowa will have to make some cuts.

And what do they want to cut? Preschool. Yep, you read that right. They'd like to keep little kids from learning their ABC's so they can put money in the hands of business owners.

Iowa Republican and House Appropriations Chairman Scott Raecker doesn't see early childhood education as an incredibly important part of a child's life foundation. In fact, he sees the difference between spending money on kids and giving corporations a tax break as an abstract political deliberation.

"That's a philosophical debate we'll have to have," Raecker said.