so now the state wants them brain washed for 14 years instead of 13. keep this up and they will make them go to school before they can even walk and talk

"Brainwashed" really? How about simple reading and writing? How about a hot meal and a school nurse? Raleigh, go back to your paranoid militia hut.

The country should not be making it easier for people to have more children than they can afford. If you ever have a chance to hear welfare mothers planning their families around when the next child in line can get into Head Start, you can see the unintended consequences of providing free pre-K.

“By the luck of the draw, the life for some students will take a different direction,” Payne said. “How fair is that?” I will tell you how fair it is. My children didn't get picked in the lottery either, so I paid for them to go to a private pre-K. I know this is a novel idea to many, but it is what I did. It was tough some months on my budget, but I felt it was worth it. Keep giving it away America.

They need to spend that money sending these parents to pre- K. We went (my son) to the best pre-K ever and it was a whole $124.00 a month I think a few less drugs, beers and cig's might cover that for the deadbeats!!

In the county its by points scale, not lottery. I signed my kid up in Febuary but she didn't get to go because she didnt rank high enough due to the fact that I dont have 5 kids and I am not on medicaid. She is however, on wic because my husband and I dont make enough although we both work full time jobs. Her doctor even said she needed to go becasue she is slower than other 4 years old. So now she will be starting school next year already behind. I cant afford for her to go to a private pre-k. Pre-K should be offered to all kids that need help not just to those that are below poverty. If you can afford private pre-k, great, but people like me that cant are stuck and our children are the ones that suffer.

I feel that the program should be offered to the children of working parents and not the children of parents who sit at home day after day and will use the program as a way to have a break. If you sit at home and some people sit at home by choice not due to not being able to find a job then you should be able to teach your child. I feel that some people use the program for babysitting.

Test

Home, I know exactly where you are coming from. Some many years ago we wanted to get one of our children into pre-k headstart program. She had a problem with speech and reading. They denied her because we made too much money. Unfortunately we didn't make enough to afford a private school back then so she didn't get the extra year that would have helped her. I agree with other comments that if one of the parents does not work, then their child should not get into pre-k under the present guidelines unless there is an open spot for them. If you can afford to sit at home then you should be able to afford to pay for a private school.