Gov. Rod Blagojevich's latest proposal " state-funded preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds " is another example of him making too many promises and setting too few priorities.

Even if he had a viable plan to pay for this nice, but nonessential, gesture, there are other needs that deserve higher priority.

Why should the state be offering preschool programs when many districts don't even have all-day kindergarten?

Normal-based Unit 5 has only had all-day kindergarten available to all students for less than two years.

Bloomington District 87 scaled back its all-day kindergarten program because of budget problems a few years ago. Late this month, the board will consider returning all-day kindergarten to the last schools without it: Oakland and Washington.

Sally Tucker, District 87 assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, thinks that before preschool is offered to all students, the state should "make sure first that all children have the opportunity for full-time kindergarten."

It is not a cheap process. To go to full-day kindergarten, District 87 expects to add three teachers at $45,000-$50,000 each and equip two additional classrooms at up to $5,000 each. But at least it fits with the basic educational mission.

The state-funded preschool plan may appeal to many parents as much for its convenience as it does for potential educational benefits. But government shouldn't be spending public money for mere convenience.

There are Head Start preschool programs for students who need an extra boost before starting school.

Applying for preschool can be daunting, and some at-risk students might fall through the cracks. Tucker noted that a universal preschool program would simplify that process.

However, we think if there is a problem reaching children in need, the procedures should be streamlined rather than creating an expansive program that would include children who don't necessarily need to be in preschool and/or whose parents could afford to pay for it themselves.

Another education-related proposal by Blagojevich has more merit: providing grants to reduce class sizes in kindergarten through third grade. Pupils in those grades are considered to be most sensitive to class sizes.

At least Blagojevich's class-size proposal would require the State Board of Education to track such things as assessment scores and attendance rates and compare them to schools with larger classes so the effectiveness of the program could be measured.

But the question still remains how the state can afford the $10 million Blagojevich wants to spend on the class-size initiative.