At a time when parents, educators and state officials are pushing to make sure every Michigan child has access to quality preschool, almost 1,000 low-income Detroit 4-year-olds may not get free, federally-funded classrooms because Detroit Public School officials botched the paperwork, Chastity Pratt Dawsey reports in Bridge Magazine.
DPS failed to complete the application process for the Head Start preschool program on time. The result: Head Start classrooms are being shuttered across the city, with the district promising to offer 4-year-olds other programs funded by Michigan taxpayers instead.
During the 2013-14 school year, DPS had more than 900 Head Start students in about 56 classrooms, public records show.
Sen. Bert Johnson, D-Highland Park, called DPS’ mistake reprehensible and doubted lawmakers would favor funding more state preschool in Detroit, considering DPS screwed up a chance at federal money.
“I think it renders us functionally obsolete as a school district as it relates to the most vulnerable students,” Johnson added.
