Some Schools Might Cut Pre-K Programs To Save Money

FORT WORTH (CBS 11 NEWS) - The Texas public education system is looking at a $10 billion shortfall in the upcoming budget cycle.  One idea that has floated around some districts is reducing their pre-K programs to half-days or eliminating them altogether.

The programs have long been touted for their ability to help low-income, at-risk children achieve success in the classroom at an early age.

Dallas' Martin Luther King, Jr. Learning Center has a class of 22 children ages 4 and 5.

Teacher Felecia Young said many of the kids came to her classroom at the beginning of the school year with an inability to recite even two letters of the alphabet. Now those same kids are able to recite and understand the upper and lower cases of the alphabet.

"Their brains are so ready and receptive," said Young.

Young said the idea of losing the program in any Texas school would be a loss for the community.

"(Districts) are cutting off their nose to spite their face," said Young.

Dallas ISD said pre-K is not yet on the chopping block but they haven't ruled out cutting it to half a day.

Fort Worth ISD said they too are trying to find ways to salvage the program.