Mayor Greg Ballard calls for $50M preschool program
Mayor Greg Ballard is proposing a $50 million public-private investment to make high-quality preschool available to 1,300 4-year-olds in low-income Indianapolis families for each of the next five years – the first prong of a three-tiered plan to fight crime in the city.
"We have failed many children in our society for at least 40 years," Ballard said during a news conference announcing the plan at the old City Hall.
"The institutions that support the family have not kept up with the changes in the family structure and the culture, and the crime that cities across America are experiencing today is a direct result of it."
It's an investment, Ballard says, to help stem the emotional and education gaps that affect many low-income children who are exposed to violence and unstable homes across the city. As a result, these children also face much greater challenges than affluent children in terms of excelling in school, staying out of trouble, graduating and finding a job, according to a 17-page proposal released today by Ballard's office.
The program also aims to pump millions of dollars into the creation of top-quality preschool providers or expand current programs so more slots are available for these children.
"In order to have a safer society, we need to address root causes of crime," Ballard said. "We need to start doing right by our children, especially those living in poverty, or at-risk children."
Ballard's plans calls for the city to provide $25 million over five years, but it will be up to City-County Council to approve the funding. In addition, $25 million in matching dollars is expected from private and philanthropic sources. The United Way of Central Indiana would oversee the scholarship and grant process.
The total investment would include: $40 million for voluntary preschool scholarships; and $10 million for grants to help program providers reach the top tiers of state ratings, and create a website and printed guide on preschool options.
Ballard already has backed other education-based programs aimed at reducing crime, including a charter school that would serve youths in the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center.
Joe Slash, Indianapolis Urban League president, called Ballard's plan a long-term approach to finding solutions for the city's future safety and well-being.
"Too many children, especially minorities, start life with the deck stacked against them. Children growing up in poverty face an opportunity gap seen before ever entering a classroom," he said in a statement. "The financial barriers of accessing early childhood education puts these children on track for a life of negative life outcomes."
The plan seeks to make costly, high-quality early-childhood programs accessible to the city's low- and median-income families. These would be programs rated at the two top levels in the Paths to Quality, Indiana's voluntary child care quality rating and improvement system, because of a rich education curriculum, overall safety and instructor training.
The cost of these providers range from $4,708 to $6,972 per child annually, according to the Ballard administration. An Indianapolis family earning $41,800, the city's median family income, would likely find the $9,400 expense for two children unaffordable. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services considers 10 percent of family income spent on childcare to be affordable.
Under Ballard's program, parents of 4-year-olds in families earning up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level could apply for financial assistance. That amounts to $44,122 for a family of four. Scholarships will be up to $6,800 for full day programs and $3,400 for half-day programs.
To create enough spots in the top-rated programs to handle even the 1,300 4-year-olds Ballard wants to help in the first year, grants will be available to schools, centers and others providers so they can become accredited through Paths To Quality.
Ballard's plan would be the state's biggest expansion of public-funded pre-kindergarten programs. Until this year, Indiana was one of 10 states that did not offer state funding for preschool.
The state legislature approved Gov. Mike Pence $10 million pre-K pilot program for five counties, including Marion. Ballard wants to leverage the pilot by providing matching funds for as many children who quality for state scholarships.
The state pilot calls for paying providers $2,500 to $6,800 for each child, with local matching funds providing 10 percent to 50 percent of the costs.
Star reporter Jill Disis contributed to this story.
Call Star reporter Eric Weddle at (317) 444-6222. Follow him on Twitter: @ericweddle.