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Preschool Pressure

Anyone who thinks the education standards movement has gone overboard may be interested in what Ohio has in store for its preschoolers.

Anyone who thinks the education standards movement has gone overboard may be interested in what Ohio has in store for its preschoolers.

Ohio is implementing its first-ever academic standards for state- funded pre-kindergarten classes. The policy outlines the sorts of things 3- and 4-year-olds should know how to do: count to 10, print their names and tell the difference between a nickel and a quarter. To be sure, these skills are pretty basic. Nobody's asking the youngsters to read "Ulysses." Still, many parents and educators think it's enough for preschoolers to learn how to play nice, and that fretting over academic achievement can wait until kindergarten.

Standards supporters disagree. They point to new research showing the importance of early learning. They also say pre-K schools should be more closely aligned with the goals of the K-12 system and that standards are a good way to do that. Ohio isn't planning on subjecting preschoolers to high-stakes tests, but as preschools nationally become more focused on learning than playing, testing may become more common. This fall, schools funded through the federal Head Start program will begin testing 4-year-olds.

Ohio's standards are intended for the teachers as much as they are for the kids. Nobody wants to put an end to nap time, says Department of Education spokesman J.C. Benton. But teachers need guidance on a few things to focus on during "teachable moments," even if they occur in the sandbox. "We expect teachers to know them," Benton says, so they can "teach those skills needed as a foundation for kindergarten success."

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