Holly Higgins
Office 202.862.9863
Mobile 202.834.6846
hhiggins@preknow.org
National report cites governor's enthusiasm... and lack of action
(Washington, D.C.) – Governor Matt Blunt is criticized in a national report released today for his weak action to improve the school readiness of Missouri children despite his years of positive rhetoric on the importance of early education. Pre-K Now, a Washington D.C.-based advocacy organization, reveals that Gov. Blunt has routinely offered words of support for early education programs but, just as consistently, has proposed flat funding for the high-quality Missouri Preschool Project. The governor's four consecutive proposals to flat fund pre-k amount to a funding reduction of 8 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars over the course of his term.
In its report, "Leadership Matters: Governors' Pre-K Proposals Fiscal Year 2009," Pre-K Now also highlights 16 governors and the mayor of Washington, D.C., who, unlike Gov. Blunt and in spite of significant fiscal and political challenges, chose to increase investments in pre-k for FY09 by $261 million. Their FY09 budget proposals would bring total state funding for pre-k to $5.2 billion–a 5.5% funding increase from last year–and would make pre-k available to nearly 60,000 more three and four year olds.
"For years, we've heard Gov. Blunt say he will ensure that children are better prepared for school by making education a fiscal priority," says Libby Doggett, executive director for Pre-K Now. "If he really wanted to ensure that Missouri's students will be ready for kindergarten, he would back up his words with action to provide high-quality pre-k for every child."
Neighboring states Kansas and Illinois already have highly regarded pre-k programs and governors who plan to expand those programs to more children. Executives in those states know that high-quality pre-k provides three and four year olds the reading, math and social skills that create a strong foundation for academic success.
"Hopefully, the candidates to succeed Gov. Blunt will take their cues from the many other leaders who recognize that investing in pre-k is one of the wisest choices state leaders can make," said Doggett.
Additional report findings include:
- Commitment to pre-k is neither "red" nor "blue": both Republican and Democratic governors proposed pre-k funding increases.
- The governor of Mississippi was the only other state executive cited for a disconnect between pre-k rhetoric and pre-k funding.
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Pre-K Now collaborates with state advocates and policymakers to lead a movement for high-quality voluntary pre-kindergarten for all three and four year olds. The following funders contribute to making this important work possible: The Pew Charitable Trusts, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the McCormick Tribune Foundation, the Foundation for Child Development, RGK Foundation, CityBridge Foundation, PNC Financial Services Group, and the Schumann Fund for New Jersey.
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