Weis Chosen to Chair Preschool Task Force

Because of his work in helping parents understand how their youngsters learn, county schools Supt. Charles Weis has been selected to co-chair a statewide preschool task force.

“[State Supt. of Public Instruction] Delaine Eastin called me to tell me the news,” Weis said. “I’m probably the least credentialed on the panel, but it sure was an honor to be asked to [serve] as co-chair.”

The Universal Preschool Task Force is made up of 50 people interested in early childhood development, including educators, business leaders and community members statewide.

They will meet for six days, beginning Nov. 4, to analyze current programs, such as those for migrant and low-income children, ages 3 to 4 years old. The panel then will devise a set of recommendations and financial requests to send to the state Legislature. A final report is expected by Dec. 31.

“The first five years are the window . . . to a child’s lifetime,” Weis said. He added that it is unfortunate that “public schools don’t do much” with that time period.

Weis and his staff created a “Lifetime of Learning” packet that caught Eastin’s attention last year.

Included in the brochures are activities recommended for parents to enhance their babies’ and toddlers’ mental capabilities, as well as biological explanations of how their children’s minds develop.