Holly Higgins
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hhiggins@preknow.org
Governor joins select group of leaders recognized for protecting pre-k investments
(Washington, D.C.) – Governor Jon Corzine is lauded for being the latest governor to provide a more secure funding strategy for pre-kindergarten in a national report released today by Pre-K Now. "Leadership Matters: Governors' Pre-K Proposals Fiscal Year 2009," a state-by-state analysis of gubernatorial leadership on pre-k, says the decision reflects a trend among forward-thinking policymakers to protect pre-k funding by linking it with the enrollment-based school funding formula.
As a result of the governor's efforts to secure funding and expand program eligibility, an additional 30,000 New Jersey children will have access to high-quality pre-k at the end of a 5-year phase-in period. "Leadership Matters" shows that Gov. Corzine is in good company: 16 governors and the mayor of Washington, D.C., proposed increased investments in pre-k for FY09 totaling $261 million. These budget proposals would bring total state funding for pre-k to $5.2 billion—a 5.5% funding increase from last year.
"The governor made pre-k a priority in a difficult budget year, and he showed true leadership in the process," said Cecilia Zalkind, executive director of the Association for Children of New Jersey. "Gov. Corzine understands the critical value of early education to children and to the state and worked to ensure that more children will get access to these valuable pre-k programs."
Gov. Corzine stands out among the nation's leaders especially in light of the drastic economic conditions facing many states this year. For the first time in four years, the number of governors recommending increases in pre-k funding declined, and four governors proposed almost $36 million in cuts for FY09.
While the mixed report confirms that too many leaders waver when it comes to early education, it also reveals that only the most committed and visionary state executives kept pre-k a priority and fought to protect it from funding cuts. Commitment to pre-k is neither "red" nor "blue": both Republican and Democratic governors proposed pre-k funding increases.
"Some people may have tried to make pre-k a political pawn, but Gov. Corzine understands that early learning isn't a game," said Libby Doggett, Ph.D., executive director for Pre-K Now. "When budgets are tight, we really see a leader's priorities."
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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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