I kind of agree with those who say that a full day of preK is a bit long for 4 year olds–I think that private preKs, even those that provide an all-day experience in conjunction with daycare, do a better job of providing a developmentally appropriate experience. Our family experienced both settings. Four year olds walking the College Heights halls quietly with their hands behind their backs may have a better academic experience than those attending more learning-through-play oriented private preKs, but I prefer the latter. But that doesn’t mean that the CSD full day preK wasn’t an excellent option and one very needed in the community. I hope that CSD can offer an attractive enough package of funded preK and tuition after care that its preK program remains a useful option for two-income and single parent families. Otherwise, we may see a lot of Emory, CDC,Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Turner, CNN, medical, legal, and other professional families switching back to many of the excellent private schools in the area. We can’t afford to lose those folks from CSD–their involvement and their political and tax support of the school system are critical to its success.

And I really feel for the two-income and single parent families who are caught in this transition period. Right now, there’s not enough full day preK slots to go around in the private sector even for those who can afford it. It’s going to be a scramble if the CSD PreK Program can’t serve their needs for full-day care.

“Never, ever, go full deacon.”