Dear Editor:

Our grandson attended a K3/4 Montessori class at Northwest Elementary last school year. This was an excellent program and was exactly what we desired for his success. We were told when we enrolled him as a 3-year-old that he would automatically be eligible for placement in the class the following year as a 4-year-old. At the end of this past school year when we attempted to enroll our 3-year-old granddaughter, we were informed that the class would only be for the 4-year-olds this next year so that more in this age group could be served. We had no problem with that decision since we thought that more people were becoming aware of the benefits and success of this program.

My son received a letter that was written June 29, informing us that our grandson did not qualify for the district's 4-year-old program for the 2009-2010 school year. The K-4 program would be funded by Title 1 federal funds and the criteria would change. K-4 would be serving students according to the greatest needs. When we looked at the point system on the student selection criteria sheet, the only criteria we could qualify for was the scores on the DIAL 3. We did not receive services from DSS or qualify for reduced or free lunch. Neither parent was incarcerated or abusive or had any substance abuse. Both parents are educated and they are married, to name only a few of the factors in the criteria that my son failed to meet.

According to an article published in The Gaffney Ledger on June 29, the decision on the funding of this program was determined on the amount of stimulus money the district received. Since placing this program under Title 1, the federal government now dictates to the local school system who they can serve and how they have to educate the children in Cherokee County. How will this program be funded when the stimulus money is no longer available? Will our property taxes increase again? Will the program still only serve the children of greatest needs?

I have communicated this to the coordinator of this program. I was told that there were four schools that serve the 3-yearolds last year and only three students from that group would be eligible for K-4 this year under the revised guidelines. When I do the calculation, it appears to me that less than 10 percent of the 3-year-olds who attended the classes last year will be able to attend K-4 this year. Could there have been some other source of funding earmarked for just one year so that these students who are being denied services this year would not have a break in their educational process?

How do you answer a 4-year-old child who has been told by his teacher and other school personnel that they would see him again in a few months, why he can't go back to school? The only answer we could think to give was you are being punished for having too much success and for having a family who loves and provides for you. Yes, he has been discriminated against because he lives in a healthy home environment with loving, responsible parents. His parents work and pay taxes so others can get the opportunity to go to school.

I want to make it clear as a former exceptional children's teacher and after having taught many underprivileged children, I believe that ALL CHILDREN should have the opportunity to be successful. But why do we sacrifice the success of some children so that the "disadvantaged" child can have more opportunities for success than the children of the working class Americans? Why are the parents of the "disadvantaged" child awarded for their failures and irresponsibility in life instead of being challenged to be more successful and responsible?

I hope the administrators, school board members and all those responsible for making this decision realize the negative impact that this has made on many 4-year-old children in our county. They have sent a message loud and clear, not only to these parents and children, but also to the teachers and staff of the K-4 program. Now a 4-year-old child who has a desire to learn and become successful really knows how much they care and how much they are looking out for all the children in Cherokee County. Pam Caraway Gaffney, S.C.