Education officials give Oklahoma's Pre-K high marks: Oklahoma's program has been recognized as the best in the nation

(MCT)

Dec. 15--Ten years after Oklahoma started offering prekindergarten to all students, educators remain committed to the program.

Educators say that students who attend prekindergarten classes are better prepared for kindergarten and less likely to repeat grades. Oklahoma is the only state to provide universal, voluntary prekindergarten for 10 years.

''We think that our reading readiness has improved and our reading scores have improved. If children haven't been talked to and cannot speak in complete sentences, it's more challenging," said Sandy Garrett, state schools superintendent.

The National Institute for Early Education Research has recognized Oklahoma as No. 1 in the nation for early childhood education for the past five years. A 2005 institute study of prekindergarten in Oklahoma and four other states showed students had a 29 percent increase in vocabulary, a 44 percent increase in math skills and an 88 percent increase in print awareness.

State educators have long known the benefits of prekindergarten, said Mary Alice Fletcher, superintendent at Stilwell, which has had a program for 4-year-olds since 1982 and a program for 3-year-olds since 1989.

''Our elementary scores are especially strong," Fletcher said. "That early intervention, especially for those special needs kids, is so important."

Before 1998, schools only offered prekindergarten to low-income, at-risk students. But in 1998 state legislators provided funding for prekindergarten for all students. That year, 5,806 students were enrolled in full-day prekindergarten and 10,981 students were enrolled in half-day. This year, 19,522 students are enrolled in full-day programs while 16,166 are enrolled in half-day programs.

In 2007, 97 percent of districts offered at least half-day prekindergarten, Garrett said. Some districts already have all-day prekindergarten and many others are moving in that direction.

Garrett said offering kindergarten to all students has several benefits. Students from all experiences go to class together.

She said, "The research shows that there is a lot of peer stimulation, and they learn from each other."

Some districts such as Oklahoma City have found ways to offer classes when space isn't available by partnering with Head Start and day care centers, said Pam Hibbs, Oklahoma City's child development services administrator. The key is that all teachers must have certification in early childhood education.

''We're trying to serve the largest number of students possible," Hibbs said.

Some districts offer classes at churches. Jenks has a prekindergarten program in an assisted living center, Garrett said.

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