As the debate on the budget continued Tuesday in the senate, Spartanburg county Senator Lee Bright introduced an amendment to discontinue the early childhood First Steps program. Bright contends that the $12 million dollars spent on the program could be better utilized by placing it in the general education fund. The First Steps program was created in 1999 and is hailed as the only program in the state focused exclusively on preparing children zero to five to enter school. Bright says he has talked to a number of school district leaders in Spartanburg County and a First Steps board member who say the program is unnecessary.

The Chairman of Finance made such a great opening speech when this budget (debate) started and he talked about his grandchild and I listened to that and I tell you we need to do what’s best for our children, not what makes the best soundbite. First Steps sounds good. Unless you are a drug abuser First Steps sounds like a good idea. However, just because something sounds good doesn’t give us the right to spend $12 million of the people’s money when it ought to be spent directly to the classroom.

York County Senator Wes Hayes said that getting rid of the program would run counter to the State Supreme Court’s ruling in a 1999 case citing the state constitution requirement that the General Assembly  provide opportunity for each child to receive a minimally adequate education.

If we don’t meet our constitutional obligation to take care of education for early childhood, we are in jeopardy. You’re getting ready to take out the component for early childhood, First Steps, in one fell swoop, which I think will certainly put this state in jeopardy as far as the equity lawsuit is concerned. [Read more...]