Fewer children may be eligible for NC Pre-K

A bill that passed the House Health Committee Tuesday would tighten eligibility rules for NC Pre-K, the state's free program for at-risk 4-year-olds.

Under current program standards, children of families making up to 75 percent of the state's median income, or roughly 200 percent of the federal poverty level, are considered "at risk" and therefore eligible for the program. For a family of three, that's about $39,000.

House Bill 935 would change the definition of "at-risk" children to those in families making no more than 100 percent of the poverty level, or about $19,500 for a family of three.

Income isn't the only criteria for the program. Eligibility standards also include children with active military parents or parents who've died in the military, as well as children with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) that address developmental disabilities, chronically ill children and children with limited English proficiency.

House Bill 935 would remove the last two subgroups.

Sponsor Rep. Justin Burr, R-Stanly, said NC Pre-K itself isn't being cut. The same number of children would be served, he said, but the change would make sure the slots are going to "children who are truly at-risk."

"Eligibility is up here, and funding is down here," Burr explained to the committee. "We're making an effort to bring this eligibility down to something we can fund." 

Under current standards, the number of eligible 4-year-olds in North Carolina is around 60,000, Burr said. Under the proposed change, it would be around 31,000. 

Burr pointed out that the lower number still exceeds the number of seats available in the program. "There still will be a need for additional funding for all those kids that are considered at risk under this new definition," he said.

Rep. Verla Insko, D-Orange, said she was "distressed" by the move to cut eligibility.

"I understand the budget restraints," she said, "but we are redoing our tax system now. We could increase funding and expand the program."

"This is an investment we need to make," Insko said. "We're not taking care of our own future – the future of this state – if we don't get these kids ready to succeed in kindergarten."

"Many of the people that are being talked about as maybe not being served were never being served in the past," responded Rep. Nelson Dollar, R-Wake, "because there was never enough money allocated in the good times or the bad times to serve every child who was eligible." 

The committee also heard a comment from Jennifer Ferrell, a self-described stay-at-home mother from Apex. She said she was there to lobby on behalf of the many parents who don't have resources to lobby for themselves.

"I'm urging that you leave the eligibility requirements alone," Ferrell said. "You'll leave many children who need help behind."

"If you're looking for funding," Ferrell added, "maybe you should look at the $4 million for voter ID that you guys are spending."

The proposal passed the committee by a 3-1 margin. Its next stop is the House floor, possibly as soon as Wednesday. 

Gov. Pat McCrory has also proposed cutting eligibility for NC Pre-K to 138 percent of the poverty level. 

In 2011, Superior Court Judge Howard Manning ruled that the North Carolina Constitution requires the state to provide pre-kindergarten for all at-risk 4-year olds. His ruling, however, did not address how "at-risk" should be defined.