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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/27/2007 4:30:43 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Iowa: Calls Needed to Stop Tax-Funded Early Education Program |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== Iowa: Calls Needed to Stop Tax-Funded Early Education Program Dear HSLDA members and friends: We need your help to stop a bill that will make the government the state's biggest nanny, House File 527. It is scheduled for a public hearing tomorrow evening (Wednesday) at 7 p.m. This bill will create and fund a huge, wasteful program for 4-year-olds. Children of that age don't need institutionalized education--they need the freedom to be kids at home. They will spend 12 long years in government schools before they graduate. It's heartless to encourage parents to drop off children who are only 4 years old. Government schools are a lousy substitute for parents. And this multi-million dollar program is destined to be fruitless. Studies show that all benefits of so-called early education disappear after a few years. We expect the full House of Representatives to vote on the bill within a few days of the hearing. REQUESTED ACTION 1. Please call your state representative immediately and give him this message: "Please oppose House File 527. We believe this is a waste of taxpayer money because it is proven that early childhood education programs have no long-term academic benefit. Parental involvement is the key factor for early childhood development, not the state." You can ask for your representative and leave a message by calling the legislative switchboard at (208) 332-1000 or toll free at (800) 626-0471. You can also use our legislative toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox to find your representative's contact information. 2. Come to the public hearing tomorrow (Wednesday, February 28) at 7 p.m. in the House Chamber in the State Capitol to voice your opinion. The House Education Committee will preside at the hearing. BACKGROUND > According to the 2005 NAEP test scores, children from states that have low compulsory attendance ages (5-6) did not score any higher than children from the other states, and in some subjects their average was actually lower. > Many education experts have concluded that beginning a child's formal education too early may actually result in burnout and poor scholastic performance later. > A report published February 6, 2007 by the Goldwater Institute examines Stanford 9 test scores and finds Arizona kindergarten programs initially improve learning but have no measurable impact on reading, math, or language arts test scores by fifth grade. The data show that students in schools with all-day kindergarten programs have statistically significant higher 3rd-grade test scores, but there is no impact on 5th-grade scores. This finding is consistent with previous research. Forcing children into school early delivers short-term benefits at best. > A tax increase will inevitably follow to pay for more classroom space and teachers to accommodate the additional students. > Enactment of this voluntary program will be a stepping stone to a mandatory program. > This bill was previously known as House Study Bill 115 For more information on compulsory attendance, please see our memorandum at http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/Issues/E/Early_Education.asp Thank you for standing with us for freedom. Sincerely, Christopher J. Klicka HSLDA Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Will your children's inheritance retain its value? If you pass on a legacy of freedom, your children and their children's children will thank you. But freedom is never secure; it must always be guarded. 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Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
