Rotary Club Speech 2/16/05

In Governor Bredesen's speech to the Rotary Club he outlines the flexibility of his pre-k plan, stating, "Under my plan, local government gets to decide if it wants to add pre-k classrooms. Local government has the ability to seek outside financial partners to fund the local match. And local government has the flexibility to build its program as finances and need dictates." Bredesen is keenly aware of the challenges of creating a high-quality pre-k program. His speech indicates his plan to implement the program in a way that builds the infrastructure to support it.

Early Childhood Action Network Meeting Opening Remarks 5/3/04

The brevity and clarity of Lt. Governor Denish’s speech are good indications of the serious approach she and Governor Richardson took in getting pre-k legislation passed. In it she lays out a plan for establishing pre-k for all in New Mexico, one that had a clear impact—New Mexico passed legislation in early 2005 for a $5 million pilot program for four year olds. The speech’s effectiveness is a testament to the importance of pre-k for all. Lt. Governor Denish let pre-k speak for itself.

National Governors’ Association Pre-K Forum Speech 12/15/2003

Dave Lawrence’s speech is a personal statement of how he felt compelled to advocate for
pre-k in Florida. Florida’s movement toward pre-k for all was led by Lawrence and his speech links his advocacy to the needs of all Floridians. He says, “I live in a community where ‘school readiness’ has become a great imperative. I live in a community larger than 16 states, a community where more than half of the people were born in another country. In Miami we live on the ‘cutting edge’ of America. A place where for all our challenges—of poverty, of culture, of language—we can nonetheless unite in caring about children.” Florida passed its legislation in December 2004 and must now implement it. Dave Lawrence lays out a good plan in his speech.