QUEEN CITY, MO. -- Fact Finder investigates funding cuts to an early childhood development program in Missouri.
Parents as Teachers is a state funded program that helps children better prepare for kindergarten. In most school districts employees will visit a student’s home to teach the family what skills they should help their children develop.
Fact Finder visited Schuyler County Schools Monday to find out how they will deal with the cuts.
“Our particular program will probably not be affected a tremendous amount, we have one Parents as Teachers employee and we’re going to continue that and we’re gonna try and get out going to as many places as we can,” says Robert Amen, Schuyler County Schools Superintendent.
The total state funding was cut $7 million from $30.8 million to $23.8 million. Next year the budget only allots $13.4 million for the program.
Fact Finder also spoke to Novinger Schools Superintendent, Bill Lake, who says they plan to continue their program on a modified basis. He says they will most likely pay their PAT professional a charge for each visit they make and the number of visits will depend on how much funding the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education gives to the district.
Read more about the Parents as Teachers program:
Mo. parents could pay for development program
Program cuts hurt kids, parents, teachers
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKTVO