Wichita schools program to run on 1/3 the funds

The Wichita Parents as Teachers program will continue this school year but on a much smaller scale, after about two-thirds of its budget was eliminated.

"It's not good news at all," said Hilary Koehn, coordinator of the early-childhood program, which last year served about 2,000 families.

"We're at the point where we're trying to pick ourselves up off the floor and figure things out."

Earlier this year, Wichita school leaders announced a plan to eliminate funding for Parents as Teachers. The $465,000 cut amounted to almost half of the program's annual budget. It lost another $170,000 in state matching funds.

Despite a $15,000 donation from the Wiedeman Foundation and a few smaller, anonymous gifts, Koehn said, the program's annual budget dropped to $350,000.

"It's going to mean that we'll be able to serve about one-third of the families we've served in the past," she said.

Koehn's staff of 10 parent educators and one certified teacher is down to three. Koehn will continue to direct the program and also will work as a parent educator.

What that will mean for Wichita families: fewer home visits, fewer play groups, fewer free books for kids, fewer workshops for parents and fewer regular events such as "Exploring Art" at CityArts and "Science Times" at Exploration Place.

Overall, Koehn said, it will mean less guidance and support for parents of children from birth to 5.

"We're feeling devastated, because we know the need is out there more than ever," she said. "We are the only program in the district that prepares families from the very beginning to... get their children prepared for school.

"And we know if we don't reach these kids as early as possible, down the road we pay the price."

In past years, Parents as Teachers has hosted 10 weekly play groups, usually in schools. During the gatherings, parent educators guide activities, share strategies and provide information about child development. Any weekday during the school year, parents could find a play group somewhere in the city.

This year there will be only three a week — one on the west side at Black Elementary, near 13th and West Street; one at Jackson Elementary, near 29th Street North and Woodlawn; and one at the Focht Instructional Center, 412 S. Main. Koehn said officials haven't yet determined which days or times the groups will meet.

The program also is winnowing its list of families that get monthly home visits, from about 500 to less than 200. Officials will try to determine who has moved or no longer wants services, Koehn said, before dropping families from the list.

The program's monthly newsletter will be online only to save on printing and postage.

And "First Things First," a partnership with Exploration Place that helps 3-year-olds and their parents learn classroom procedures and get ready for school, will go from eight sessions a year to three.

"We're trying to continue everything as much as we can. There will just be less of it, not as frequent, and not in the manner that we've been able to do in the past," Koehn said.

This story was originally published July 28, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Wichita schools program to run on 1/3 the funds."