GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee would create pre-k programs to help raise student achievement, reports the Des Moines Register. Huckabee's comments to Iowa's largest newspaper echo words from his book, From Hope to Higher Ground, in which he writes: "[as Arkansas' governor] it was a priority for me to develop more accessible and effective preschool programs and to make dramatic changes in both access and affordability in higher education. We developed a seamless curriculum from pre-K through college so that there was coordination and continuity throughout the educational process." The Arkansas Better Chance pre-k program ranks high in quality, nationally, and current Gov. Mike Beebe and legislators expanded the program this year to families earning up to 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines. A number of the presidential candidates hail from states with proud pre-k records - Huckabee is no exception.

Gov. Tim Kaine unveiled a multi-faceted plan this week to expand and improve the Virginia Preschool Initiative. Kaine said: "Research has conclusively demonstrated that high quality early childhood education has a significant impact on later student success, especially for at-risk children." His proposal would make pre-k available by 2010 to 7,000 more four year olds who qualify for school-lunch programs, at a cost of $56 million. Quality initiatives in Kaine's plan include a quality rating system for early care and education providers and scholarships for teachers seeking college degrees and training. The Virginian-Pilot editorialized that "Republicans should gather around the bargaining table and find a way to invest in needy children without breaking the bank. Gov. Kaine has already pulled up his chair." We agree, advancing pre-k in Virginia should be a bipartisan effort.

District of Columbia Council Chairman Vincent Gray, joined by all 12 Council colleagues, has introduced a bill that aims to achieve the vision of high-quality pre-k for all, set out by District leaders three decades ago. The six-year, $50 million proposal, covered in the Washington Post, seeks to add pre-k classrooms in the District and to bring all classrooms up to high quality standards. The 125 new classrooms would create pre-k opportunities for 2,000 eligible three- and four-year-old children who are currently left out of the city's pre-k program, says Pre-K for All DC. Now, this policy wisdom must be matched by political will. District residents can help by joining Pre-K for All DC's campaign and urging the Council and Mayor Adrian Fenty to keep the city's pre-k promise by passing and funding this bill.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) reports that two-thirds of the state's school districts now offer pre-k after another 10 percent started participating this fall. For the 2007-2008 school year, 27 districts opened Four-Year-Old Kindergarten (4K) programs, paid for through a mix of state education funding and local school dollars. Since 2001, the number of districts with 4K programs has risen 70 percent. While Wisconsin has long recognized the value of early education, each district makes the choice to offer pre-k or not. The dramatic increase in participation is a credit to leadership from local school officials and strong financial and technical support from DPI staff and state policymakers. With more of the same, Wisconsin is well-positioned to reach the goal – written clearly in its 1848 Constitution – of a free, voluntary education for all four-year-old children.

With the election buzz getting louder, one more presidential candidate took the opportunity to speak out on pre-k for all. Last week in New Hampshire, Sen. Barack Obama unveiled his plan to expand services not just for pre-kindergarteners, but for all children from birth to age five. Obama told voters while more children are enrolling in pre-k, focus should also be on babies and toddlers, whose brains go through rapid development at that age. Ten billion dollars would go toward providing state grants for expanded pre-k access and increasing Head Start funding. The funding will also help quadrulple the number of children eligible for Early Head Start and creating "a Presidential Early Learning Council" to ensure high quality services for babies, toddlers, and children.

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley (R) wants to expand access to voluntary pre-k in his upcoming education budget—and he’s telling everyone about it. In a video message to Alabamians the week of Thanksgiving, he declares that expanding pre-k is the next step in improving student achievement and that "we now have to embrace pre-kindergarten in Alabama like we never have before." Gov. Riley knows that his state's pre-k program is one of only two that meets every quality standard set by the National Institute for Early Education Research, yet limited funding has prevented all but 4 percent of Alabama's 60,000 four year olds from attending the program. In the coming months, the governor will travel the state to discuss his pre-k expansion plan. We’re sure he'll find Alabama families rooting for more <br />pre-k every step of the way.

Gov. Tim Kaine received a boost in his quest to expand pre-k in Virginia. The Washington Post covered a report, commissioned by the General Assembly, that found children enrolled in Virginia's pre-k program were more likely to pass literacy tests and arrive in kindergarten "very well prepared." In addition, children of every race that attended pre-k performed above researchers' expectations. The report reaffirms what decades of research have found: high-quality pre-k helps close achievement gaps and prepares children for school. Armed with evidence that pre-k works, Gov. Kaine and the Assembly should take a page next from North Carolina's playbook and encourage high-quality private and community-based providers to participate in the state's pre-k program. Collaborating is a sound, cost-effective way to help more Virginia children get quality early learning experiences.

The war in Iraq, the home mortgage crisis, gas prices...and pre-k? CNN’s American Morning viewers recently started their workday with a cup of coffee and a refreshing story about quality early education, another sign that pre-k is an increasingly newsworthy topic in our country. Correspondent Brianna Keilar visited a high-quality pre-k classroom in Lewis County, W.Va., to investigate early learning in action. She reports that Lewis County school officials have seen a 14 percent drop in special education enrollment since the county began offering pre-k to all children. Thanks to Keilar’s story, CNN showed a national audience how quality pre-k experiences are helping children meet their highest potential.

The proven benefits of pre-k only result from high-quality programs, so states are increasingly looking for accountability systems that will enhance quality and ensure large returns on the billions of new pre-k dollars they have invested since 2005. This week, state leaders got help in their quality quest. The National Early Childhood Accountability Task Force released a final report with recommendations on how states can build accountable early education programs, including advice on the data to gather and how to use them. “By their very nature, early childhood programs are difficult to assess,” said Task Force Chair Sharon Lynn Kagan, but establishing accountability systems will help states accurately assess and improve pre-k settings. Ultimately, the Task Force’s recommendations aim to not only improve pre-k but to align states' pre-k programs with the rest of their education standards and goals.

Even though they can’t yet reach the ballot box, our nation’s 3- and 4-year-olds are making their mark on presidential politics. Just ask Education Writers Association President and USA Today editorial writer Richard Whitmire or New York Times Magazine contributing writer Ann Hulbert. Whitmire’s column in last week’s Politico and Hulbert’s piece both explain that talking about pre-k is no longer just warm and fuzzy conversation fodder. Advocates, lawmakers, and presidential hopefuls are framing pre-k as a way to better prepare all children to be successful students and productive citizens. As the campaigns swing through primary states like Iowa and South Carolina, we look forward to hearing what hopefuls have to say about pre-k. Journalists are paying attention, and their voting readers are too.

IIn an unusual move, both the plantiff and the defendant are taking a school funding case to South Carolina’s highest court. The Item reports that the state of South Carolina and at least thirty-six schools districts will appeal a state equity funding ruling to the state Supreme Court. Many public school districts claimed they do not receive enough funding to provide a minimally adequate education, but Judge Thomas Cooper Jr.’s ruling said the only area that lacked funding was early childhood education. Officials understand that appealing the decision could be risky, but deteriorating facilities and the necessity to improve public education justified the risks. Each side will not present legal briefs until the end of November, but we’ll be watching this case to ensure that the courts are working to ensure a quality education for every child, from pre-k and beyond.

Cities across the country are starting book-of-the-month clubs for an unusually small audience. USA Today reports, "Dozens of cities have some type of book club or reading initiative, but the latest campaigns by a handful of cities are unusual because they target every preschooler." Mayors like Jacksonville, Florida's John Peyton are encouraging participation by offering free books to pre-k-age children and by holding public readings of each month's selection at schools, in libraries, and on local TV channels. While these mayor-led book clubs may never rival Oprah's, they provide families a great opportunity to develop early reading skills and send a message that early learning is a priority in the community.

At a campaign stop in Iowa, Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden put pre-k at the center of his $30 billion education plan, proposing to make two years of publicly-funded, voluntary pre-k available to all children. Biden is the the fourth 2008 presidential candidate to address pre-k in a major policy speech. The Des Moines Register reports that Biden's plan would provide $12 billion per year for pre-k programs, funded through Head Start and Early Head Start. Grants would be used to expand state pre-k programs and to improve access to home visitation and parental education programs. In addition to pre-k, Biden’s plan focuses on increasing grants and tax credits for college tuition, raising teacher salaries, and lowering teacher-student ratios.

While debate rages over what led to recent gains in National Achievement in Educational Progress scores, two governors of states where students rank at or near the top nationally say pre-k is playing a part. New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine said, "We equate our increases to sound preschool and early childhood education programs in New Jersey." Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick laid out an agenda for further progress: "...[W]e must work to educate the whole child from the time they start learning before kindergarten, through grade 12 and higher education, and continue that effort in work force development and lifelong learning." While access to pre-k can be one of many variables affecting test scores, we’re glad that governors recognize pre-k as a way to give children a strong foundation so they will succeed in school.

Speaking in Des Moines last week, presidential candidate John Edwards announced an education agenda that includes federal support for high-quality pre-k, reports the Associated Press. The announcement makes Edwards the third 2008 White House contender to include pre-k in a major education policy address. Edwards’ plan offers resources to help states increase quality in and expand access to pre-k programs for four year olds. His proposal would set curriculum standards, require teachers to have a bachelor's degree, provide higher teacher salaries, and encourage parental involvement. The plan advocates a sliding scale for tuition based on family income, with children from low-income families attending for free.

An extensive public-opinion study finds South Carolina parents, students, teachers, principals, superintendents, school board members, and business leaders agree: offering high-quality pre-k to all children is one of three key strategies to reforming education in the state. The Greenville News reports that researchers at Furman University conducted more than 3,000 hours of interviews with nearly 800 education stakeholders and discovered a surprising amount of passion and consensus on education reform policies. Publicly-funded pre-k for all was one of three reforms gathering the widest and deepest support. State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex told the News he hopes the report will encourage legislators will listen to the suggestions - 800 people who ought to know have made it loud and clear how they would fix public education.

Pre-k is a hot buzzword among politicians, academics, and economists these days — but the history of the pre-k movement has been decades in the making. David Kirp's The Sandbox Investment: The Preschool Movement and Kid-First Politics provides a compelling history of an education movement that is rapidly gaining momentum. His book explains the science and politics fueling the movement, from the initial pre-k studies and programs of the 1960s to the current and emerging education policies that states are supporting with billions of their own dollars. See video of Kirp responding to questions from USA Today's Richard Whitmire at forum held by Pre-K Now and The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Congresswomen Mazie Hirono (HI) and Carolyn Maloney (NY), co-sponsors of two different pre-k bills in Congress, co-wrote an editorial urging their colleagues to support high-quality pre-k in a recent special edition of The Hill focused on education. With the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act in the process of reauthorization, the co-authors say now is "an ideal opportunity for Congress to emphasize the importance of high-quality preschool." Their bills both propose giving states incentive grants to increase the availability and quality of voluntary pre-k programs. We applaud Reps. Hirono and Maloney for their wise legislation and for using this unique platform to explain why pre-k belongs in NCLB. With their leadership, the "trickle up" pre-k momentum generated by state pre-k programs may soon be rewarded with a new federal stream of support.

Parents, advocates, and economists know that investments in high-quality pre-k programs garner big returns, but this investment tip never made the front page of the Wall Street Journal - until now. Reporter Deborah Solomon writes that the pre-k movement "represents one of the most significant expansions in public education in the 90 years since WW I, when kindergarten first became standard in American schools." Pre-K Now is thrilled that WSJ has its eye on this issue. Coverage like Solomon's can help foster a bull market for business support of high-quality pre-k, and we are proud to be recognized as front-line leaders in this front-page movement.
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Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis official Art Rolnick discovered that investing in pre-k brings a 16 percent return on investment. Recently, remarks from President of the Richmond Fed Jeffrey M. Lacker featured in the Washington Post explain how pre-k creates a strong return. Speaking to the Governor’s Summit on Early Childhood Development in Virginia, he told attendees an investment in pre-k improves a child’s “potential for compounding”—pre-k preps children to achieve more in later schooling, creating a more highly educated and skilled workforce. With two Fed officials speaking up about pre-k, hopefully the more fiscally-minded will consider pre-k as something to bank on.

As the presidential campaign unfolds across the country, expect to see more candidates take a stand on pre-k. Several candidates have included pre-k for all in their plans to improve education as President--the latest candidate being Senator Chris Dodd, who announced his plan in Des Moines, Iowa, yesterday in a major address on education policy. Senator Dodd’s plan would provide pre-k for all children in low- and middle-income families by creating a federal grant to support state pre-k programs and by increasing funding for Head Start. Many of the other presidential candidates have included pre-k for all in their campaign proposals to reform education. Pre-K Now encourages you to visit each candidate’s campaign site for more information.

A new study from Harvard provides lawmakers with a research-based framework for effective early childhood policies, the Harvard Crimson reports. Researchers presented the framework at a recent meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures and explained that a young child's positive or negative experiences form the foundation for future brain development. One piece of advice the experts had for policymakers: children consistently benefited from policies that provided safe environments where children can learn and interact with well-qualified teachers and other children. The report will serve as a reputable reference and guide as more state legislators show an interest in early education investments.

Speaking to the Business Council of Alabama, Gov. Bob Riley said the next step to improve the state’s schools and economy is prioritizing pre-k, reports the Birmingham News. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to have to build a pre-K program that allows our children to have as much of the advantages as every other state," Riley told attendees at the Council's annual conference. "Unless we allow them to have that early education, we will never achieve that level of greatness our children deserve." Expanding Alabama's top-quality, voluntary pre-k program to all children is a goal the business community would be wise to support, and we are glad to see the governor taking his pre-k message directly to these influential leaders.

National advocates and Idaho legislators are taking action against Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter’s $1.5 million cut from Parents as Teachers, a nationally renowned program providing parents with child development knowledge and parenting support. PAT CEO Sue Stepleton told Boise Weekly, "The state can find that [money] if the state has the will to find it." Luckily, two state legislators are sponsoring bills restoring PAT funding next year, citing interest from constituents and fiscal leaders, reports the Idaho-Statesman. While PAT is not the same thing as pre-kindergarten, Pre-K Now is glad some policymakers recognize the benefits of funding services that support a child’s first and most important teacher. We hope more legislators recognize the program’s vital importance to Idaho's families.

As candidates and voters gear up for Louisiana's 2007 legislative and gubernatorial elections, the Shreveport Times encourages them to pay particular attention to Blueprint Louisiana, a group of business and civic leaders whose five-point policy agenda includes giving all four year olds access to high-quality pre-k. Blueprint Louisiana urges candidates to get specific and asks them to support a pre-k system with "strong standards and program features… available across public schools, Head Start, and willing child care providers in Louisiana through a single, coordinated system." Pre-K Now agrees with the Times that "by forcing candidates to address these areas in meaningful ways rather than platitudes, voters can determine who's the empty suit and who's not."

Florida's system for evaluating the effectiveness of Voluntary Pre-K providers is taking fire from pre-k directors, local education officials, and parents, says a Tampa Tribune article. The state currently measures what children who attended pre-k know when they enter kindergarten but not what they knew when they started pre-k. As a result, providers can enhance their state ranking simply by enrolling children with above-average skills at age four. Conversely, effective pre-k providers who enroll more children with below-average skills can be penalized for closing most, but not all, of the school-readiness gap. Pre-K Now suggests that, until the state fixes the gap in its logic, Florida parents take the provider rankings with a large grain of salt.

The Miami Herald recently reported on a national poll showing that candidates' stances on education matter more to Hispanic voters than current front-page issues like the Iraq war and healthcare. Sponsored by the National Council of La Raza and Strong American Schools, the poll also found that high school dropout rates are the top concern among Hispanic voters (41 percent). Respondents said that most of the problems with education stem from weak schools and a lack of parental involvement. As shown in Pre-K Now's report "Pre-K and Latinos: The Foundation for America's Future," high-quality pre-k programs that include support for English language learners can help Hispanic children close the achievement gap, increase graduation rates for all children, and promote parental involvement.

Congress's spotlight was shining on pre-k once again at the Joint Economic Committee's June 27 hearing, "Investing in Young Children Pays Dividends." Hearing co-chairs Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) took testimony from Nobel Laureate James Heckman, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, and others about the economic benefits of high-quality pre-k programs. Pre-K Now is encouraged to see federal policymakers exploring the full range of pre-k benefits and listening to the expertise of state leaders. You can listen to the expert testimony yourself on the JEC website. And, see Pre-K Now's recent "Dollars and Sense" report for still more data on pre-k's return on investment.

Three thousand more children will have the chance to attend pre-k in Oregon in 2008, thanks to the education budget that passed the state Senate last week. The Senate increased Oregon Head Start Prekindergarten funding by $39 million, the same amount endorsed earlier by the House of Representatives. Governor Ted Kulongoski is expected to approve the increase, part of a $6.25 billion biennial budget for public schools, as the next step in his plan to fully fund the state pre-k program. Pre-K Now applauds advocates with the Ready for School initiative for their hard work on behalf of the Oregon's youngest learners.
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Floridians are offering Gov. Charlie Crist and legislators a deal they can't afford to refuse. Led by Children's Campaign, Inc., pre-k supporters are sending coupons to state leaders urging that they "Spend $1, Save $7" by fully implementing the high-quality pre-k-for-all program voters approved in 2002. Like any good coupon, some rules apply. In this case, the governor and legislators must achieve "a quality pre-k program with degreed lead teachers" in order to claim these impressive savings. Pre-K Now is cheering on this creative campaign and hopes it helps convince Florida lawmakers to sign on the dotted line and save the high-quality pre-k way!

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius isn't just concerned about pre-k in Kansas – she's asking for a commitment to high-quality early childhood education from the U.S. Congress, the president, and governors across the nation. In an op-ed in the Wichita Eagle, the governor writes, "We must make a national commitment to provide all children with access to quality early learning opportunities, for their sake and for the sake of our nation’s long-term prosperity." Leaders like Gov. Sebelius recognize that state pre-k initiatives require collaboration with federal policymakers now more than ever. While states will continue to lead the movement, national leadership will play a vital role in ensuring that access to high-quality pre-k programs eventually becomes less dependent on a young child's address.

A Statesman Journal story reports that Oregon's legislative joint budget committee was near unanimous (19-1) in approving a $39 million budget increase for the state's pre-k program over the next two years. More than 3,000 three and four year olds will gain an opportunity to attend pre-k if the full legislature passes this budget. The increase is part of Gov. Ted Kulongoski's plan to fully fund the Oregon Head Start Prekindergarten program, which operates under the same quality and eligibility standards as federal Head Start programs.

U.S. Senator Robert Casey (D-Penn.) has introduced a bold piece of legislation that would provide $5 billion for federal grants to support high-quality state pre-k programs. The "Prepare All Kids Act" takes many important quality factors into consideration. Programs receiving grants would have to employ teachers with bachelor's degrees and specialized early childhood training. Requirements on class size, the use of research-based curricula, family involvement, and collaboration with community-based providers would also have to be met. Pre-K Now is delighted that Sen. Casey took this positive step and looks forward to working with him to advance and strengthen the bill. Download and read our letter to Sen. Casey here.

This week's National Summit on America's Children is indeed raising the visibility of pre-k among our national leaders, as well as Oval Office hopefuls. The New York Times reports that Senator Hillary Clinton visited a Florida pre-k classroom Monday morning to announce a plan to make voluntary pre-k programs available to all four year olds in the U.S. Her proposal calls for a $5 billion matching fund that states could use to create and expand pre-k programs. To receive funds, states would have to match each federal dollar, meet certain quality standards, and not decrease state dollars spent on pre-k.

With very little fanfare, Indiana created its first pre-k program this session. Amid celebration over increased funding for full-day kindergarten, few noticed a last-minute addition to the state’s FY08 budget bill instituting a pilot pre-k program. The bill calls for quality standards, alignment with K-12 education, and delivery through a variety of settings. But, no appropriation was approved for the program, leaving implementation of the pilot up in the air. Read the Indiana Department of Education’s press release on the budget’s education successes here.

From a series of short tests issued to kindergarteners throughout the state, education officials in Florida have determined that children who attended the first year of the state's pre-k-for-all program scored better than their counterparts who did not attend. Results of these tests have also been used to assess the effectiveness of specific pre-k providers across the state. Despite what seems like success for the state's low-quality pre-k program, on some measures only half of children tested received a score indicating proficiency. Pre-K Now's Libby Doggett told the Palm Beach Post, "Does anyone really think preparing half of Florida’s children is a victory?" A continued focus on raising the quality of pre-k in Florida is essential to ensure that more children get the social and academic foundation they need to succeed.
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Recently, Southern states have been ranked the lowest in the country in such categories as child poverty, income, and quality of life. In a new report, the Southern Education Foundation (SEF) has found the silver lining: the South as a region leads the nation on pre-k. Average pre-k enrollment rates are the highest in the nation, two-thirds of the states with the highest quality are in the South, and the majority of Southern states fund pre-k above the national average cost per child. SEF has identified pre-k as "the South's most important comparative advantage in education."

Key policy questions are raised by a brief released recently by the Center for Social and Demographic Analysis and Child Trends, the first in a series of issue briefs examining children in immigrant families. Hinting at the barriers immigrant families face, the researchers report that the rate of pre-k enrollment for four year olds in Mexico is 26 percent higher than the rate for four year olds whose families immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico. In twelve states and the District of Columbia, the barriers appear somewhat lessened, with data from these states showing that three and four year olds from immigrant familes are "about as likely, or more likely, to be enrolled in school" as their non-immigrant peers. Understanding the causes behind these numbers is essential to making the U.S. "the land of opportunity."
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Pre-k does more than get children ready for kindergarten – it offers America's children a chance for a more prosperous future. So says a newly released report from the Center for American Progress, which investigates the causes and consequences of poverty in America. "Poverty to Prosperity: A National Strategy to Cut Poverty in Half" highlights the fact that persistent childhood poverty is one of the most expensive social problems facing our country, costing America $500 billion every year. Amid all the gloom and doom are 12 steps to cut poverty in half, including a recommendation to "promote early education for all." When more children enroll in pre-k, our country sees the benefits.

An analysis by the Denver Public Schools suggests that pre-k programs are helping the district attract and keep students, reports the Rocky Mountain News. Seventy-three percent of children who attended district-run pre-k were still enrolled in the district four years later, compared with only 63 percent of children who did not attend. Naturally, the question on principals' minds is, where do I find the resources to expand my school's pre-k offerings? The Denver Preschool Program, a pre-k tuition-assistance fund approved by city voters last November, is a timely part of the answer. Its $12 million in annual scholarship aid to families could provide the incentive and resources to spur a pre-k boom in public schools as well as private and nonprofit centers.

With a 36-14 Senate vote, the Iowa legislature sent Gov. Chet Culver a bill implementing his pre-k-for-all proposal, reports the Quad-City Times. Iowa would become the fifth state to offer pre-k to all four year olds if the plan is successfully phased in. The bill adds pre-k to the state school funding formula but private providers will also be eligible for pre-k dollars. State pre-k support is expected to grow to $60 million annually by year four of the plan, when it is envisioned 90 percent of four year olds will have access to quality pre-k. Pre-K Now congratulates Gov. Culver and the many legislative champions who secured this landmark victory for Iowa's children and families!

A study commissioned by Boston's school system found that many of the city's pre-k and kindergarten classrooms lack important quality and safety measures, prompting renewed debate over how to maintain high quality standards when rapidly expanding these programs. City leaders prioritized a major increase in pre-k and kindergarten services over the last decade, says a Boston Globe article, but quality considerations like teacher training, teacher-child ratios, and classroom materials have lagged behind, according to the study. These findings deserve no less attention from state leaders, especially new governor Deval Patrick, whose first budget proposal includes new money for full-day kindergarten but flat funds Massachusetts's pre-k initiatives.

North Dakota is likely to remain without a pre-k program for at least another year. KFYR-TV in Bismarck reports that a bill to give local school districts $200,000 for pre-k pilot programs died in the state senate, despite a 23-22 vote in favor of the bill (24 votes were needed for passage). Advocates in the Senate argue that the need for state-funded pre-k is clear, with 700 North Dakota children currently on Head Start waiting lists and many others in families just over Head Start's income eligibility limits. Opponents insist that early education is a parental and possibly a federal concern but should not be one of the state's. The 39 states that have state-funded pre-k programs indicate otherwise.

Seventy-six percent of Alabama voters think the state should fund voluntary pre-k for all, according to a new poll released by the Alabama School Readiness Alliance. The poll also showed that sixty-one percent of voters believe the state is not doing enough to provide high-quality pre-k. Although the state’s pre-k program leads the country in quality, fewer than five percent of children have access. Pre-K Now’s Libby Doggett told the Associated Press, "This poll should be a clear signal to state legislators that now is the time to expand pre-k so more children have the opportunity to start kindergarten prepared for success in school and in life."
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The St. Petersburg Times reports that you can "mark down Gov. Charlie Crist as a yes on the question of whether Florida prekindergarten teachers should have bachelor's degrees by 2013." Six former Florida governors and the widow of a seventh recently published an opinion piece calling for Gov. Crist to endorse higher qualifications for Florida pre-k teachers. The governor says he got the message and, while his budget proposal does not address pre-k teacher quality, the issue may see action in this session. Says Rep. Joe Pickens, chairman of the House Schools and Learning Council, "If something within the purview of my council becomes a priority of the governor, it makes me stand and take notice."

The New York Times, NPR, and many other media outlets are playing up a research finding this week that children placed in child care are more likely to develop behavioral problems. Much of the coverage ignores two key aspects of this story: first, that the majority of research shows high-quality early education has positive effects on children's behavorial development; and second, that parents clearly do not have enough high-quality pre-k and early care options. While high-quality pre-k provides certified teachers, a low teacher-child ratio and rich, nurturing educational experiences, those and other benchmarks are too often not yet a part of the average "child care" program. Parents deserve solutions, not panic, from the press, yet sadly are getting mostly the latter in this case.
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We are pleased to announce that Kathy Patterson has joined Pre-K Now's staff in the role of federal policy director. Ms. Patterson served as a District of Columbia Council member from 1995-2007, working on council initiatives to renovate the D.C. Public Schools and to recruit and retain quality teachers. At Pre-K Now, Ms. Patterson will focus her efforts on advancing the pre-k agenda on Capitol Hill and work closely with other national organizations to pursue shared goals associated with early childhood education.
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South Carolina pre-k is up for debate this week, as lawmakers decide whether to expand the state-funded pre-k program to more four year olds. Lawmakers are considering a plan that would let all counties participate in the Child Development Education Pilot program, an initiative created in 2005 as a result of a successful funding equity lawsuit brought against the state by 36 school districts. The pilot is currently limited to the 36 plaintiff districts, but early signs of children's gains in those districts have legislators proposing to widen eligibility to any four year old in the state whose family qualifies for Medicaid or reduced-price lunch. To make this expansion work, legislators should also show a strong commitment to pre-k funding. Despite the court-ordered infusion of education dollars, South Carolina ranks dead last in per-child pre-k spending at $1,085/child.
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Congressional Democrats and politically conservative voices like Human Events are calling for the elimination of the National Reporting System, a standardarized assessment that Head Start programs have been required to administer to children since 2003. The Washington Post reports that the current House and Senate versions of the Head Start reauthorization bill would suspend the test. The Bush administration wants to keep the test in place, believing it a necessary tool for holding individual Head Start programs accountable. Many early education experts say the test has proven ineffective at measuring what children learn in Head Start and was never field tested to determine that it could measure such gains in the first place.

The tension between Florida's surging pre-k enrollment and its below-average quality standards and per-child funding is getting coverage in the Palm Beach Post. With more than 100,000 children enrolled in just the program's second year, state officials are emphasizing the growing pre-k demand from parents. Children's advocates are not quite so sunny, contending that many four year olds and their families are not getting the high-quality pre-k education promised by the state constitution. They are calling for urgent action to improve program quality, first and foremost by requiring that pre-k teachers hold bachelor's degrees. Florida residents can add their voices to this advocacy campaign at QualityPreK.org.

Pre-k advocates are underwhelmed by a $40 million early education budget package offered this week by Minnesota House Democrats, according to articles such as this one from the Star Tribune. The Democrats' package is $11 million more than what Gov. Tim Pawlenty proposed, but even the sponsor of the Democratic package, Rep. Nora Slawik, acknowledges $40 million is a small step forward. She reports that the House leadership thinks full-day kindergarten is the first priority. Minnesota's pre-k program is both high quality and scarce, serving less than two percent of four year olds - of the states with pre-k programs, only Alabama serves a smaller percentage.

The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) has unveiled its annual Yearbook report on state-funded pre-k programs, ranking the states in pre-k access, quality, and spending. Pre-K Now Executive Director Libby Doggett remarked on the report in a statement, saying: "In 2006, children across the country attended pre-kindergarten programs of higher quality than ever before, and better quality means bigger benefits." NIEER found that 16 states improved the quality of their programs for the 2005-06 school year and, nationwide, state pre-k enrollment increased to 20 percent among four year olds. For the first time ever, two states - Alabama and North Carolina - met all 10 NIEER quality benchmarks.

The pre-k wagon train is rolling across the Dakotas, adding new pressure to the block of pre-k "wilderness" states to their west. A South Dakota pre-k pilot program, using $700,000 of state funds plus private dollars, appears imminent. To the north, legislators in Bismarck are considering a two-year trial program under a pre-k bill which passed the House 57-35. Sponsors proposed pre-k funding of $500,000 over two years of a biennium budget, but House members reduced the appropriation to less than half that amount. State senators now have the opportunity to restore funding and keep pace with their peers in Pierre.

The achievement gap between Hispanic children and their peers starts early, and lawmakers must do more to increase pre-k access and enrollment for Hispanic families. So says a new report from the National Task Force on Early Childhood Education for Hispanics. The report calls for the expansion of Early Head Start, Head Start, and state pre-k, with a special emphasis on providing resources for English language learners. According to a statement by Pre-K Now’s Danielle Gonzales, "For too many years we have complacently allowed Latino children to fall through the cracks and start school behind. We cannot afford to wait any longer."

Described last year as "the nation's premier pre-k champion" in Pre-K Now's Leadership Matters report, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich did not rest on those laurels in his 2008 budget and education plan. As reported by the Chicago Tribune, he exceeded already high expectations by proposing a $61 million increase to expand pre-k access to 12,000 more children and another $10 million dollars for improvements in pre-k facilities. With Blagojevich's strong leadership, Illinois is on track to be the first state in the nation to offer high-quality, voluntary pre-k to all three and four year olds.

Advocates, lawmakers, and parents have long touted the advantages of a mixed delivery system for pre-k, and the media is starting to catch on. A recent Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel article quotes officials from the Menomonee Falls School District and area childcare providers who say that their 4-K initiative is providing convenience for families, necessary wraparound care, and relief for school districts crunched for space. The Austin American-Statesman also reports success with the Texas Early Education Model, citing that the presence of a TEEM pre-k program gives parents a way to measure the quality of private childcare and Head Start centers.

South Dakota - the state with the highest percentage of working mothers in the nation (82%) - is planning to dip a toe in the pre-k pool with a public-private pilot initiative in Sioux Falls. But the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports in an editorial that a slim majority of the House Education Committee voted to kill a bill which would allow the state Department of Education to establish standards for the pilot program. Rightly criticizing that vote, the Argus Leader urges: "If we're going to have true pre-kindergarten education, parents ought to be assured there are standards and that they're being met." Otherwise, who knows what may lurk in the deep end?

Gov. Bill Richardson's proposal to expand access to New Mexico Pre-K met resistance last week in the House, which passed a budget that would deny pre-k to more than 2,000 new children. In response, Pre-K Now started a campaign calling on the Senate to restore the full $18 million pre-k increase Richardson requested. The governor's proposal would fund space for approximately 2,800 new pre-k students as well as professional development for teachers and start-up assistance for new pre-k centers. New Mexico residents can write to state senators here.

Pre-K Now has launched an action campaign to support Texas advocates working to expand the state's pre-k program. Texas lawmakers are flush with a projected $14 billion surplus, but a few legislative leaders actually proposed cutting pre-k spending by $20 million. Gov. Rick Perry countered with a proposed increase of $80 million, and a bipartisan group of legislators is championing a $200 million increase, a welcome sign to the thousands of Texas children still waiting for affordable, quality pre-k programs. If you live in Texas or know someone who does, join the campaign here.

North Carolina’s Governor Mike Easley is the latest governor to release a budget that commits much-needed resources to our nation’s youngest learners. As he pledged in his state of the state address, the governor is proposing to make the state’s More at Four pre-k program available to 10,000 more children, virtually doubling the current enrollment. His plan includes a one time allocation of $3.4 million for facilities improvement and an additional $400 per child, bringing total program spending up to $59.3 million. Gov. Easley joins the bipartisan ranks of governors around the country who are including pre-k in their roadmaps for 2008.

The February edition of the Pre-K Post is online. This month, we discuss how pre-k might find its way into the next president's priorities, the story behind Vermont's pre-k program, and much more. To receive the Pre-K Post in your inbox each month, take a minute to subscribe to our email list.

First Class Teachers and the Center for the Child Care Workforce, both projects of the American Federation of Teachers, have teamed up to assess the professional development needs of early childhood education professionals. Educators are asked about their level of education, topics they would find interesting for professional development, and their opinions on how professional development might best be provided. If you are a pre-k educator, please take five minutes to complete this survey, and please pass it along to other pre-k teachers you know.

Fueled by public outcry over insufficient Head Start funding, the editorial board of the Washington Post has staked its claim in favor of increases for the federal pre-k program that provides at-risk children with a strong foundation for success in school. In an editorial, the paper calls Head Start “equally significant” to the No Child Left Behind Act and applauds the Senate education committee in their recent efforts to expand eligibility, increase funding, and strengthen teacher credentials. Even so, the Senate committee recommendation falls short of the $2 billion annual increase proposed by the <i>Post</i> as an appropriate commitment to some of our nation’s youngest learners.

Louisiana Superintendent of Education Cecil Picard, a former teacher and legislator and long-time pre-k champion, died on February 15 from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The Baton Rouge Advocate reports on many of his life's achievements. Pre-K Now will fondly remember Cecil Picard for his relentless advocacy for high-quality early education programs. He once told the state board of education that his top three priorities were "pre-k, pre-k, and pre-k." Our staff joins his family and friends in mourning his passing.

A new report by the Advancement Project-Los Angeles estimates that, if all California four year olds tried to enroll in a state pre-k-for-all program, one in five would be out of luck due to a shortage of facilities. The survey of existing facilities shows an uneven distribution such that urban and ex-urban children - many of them minorities and from low- or mid-income families - would face an even tighter squeeze for pre-k seats. In coverage in the Los Angeles Times, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez says he will investigate creating new facilities using funds from education bonds approved by voters in November.

The Hamilton Project released an ambitious discussion paper from economists Jens Ludwig and Isabel Sawhill that includes a proposal to gradually ramp up federal early education spending by $40 billion over 10 years. Titled Success by Ten, the paper envisions "a major expansion and intensification of Head Start and Early Head Start, so that every disadvantaged child has the opportunity to enroll in a high-quality program of education and care during the first five years of his or her life." Stating that current U.S. social policies "try to play catch-up," the authors make a case for capitalizing on the brain's astonishing early development to encourage children's success from birth.

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke remarked upon the benefits of programs like pre-k in a Feb. 6 speech to the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Said Bernanke: "Although education and the acquisition of skills is a lifelong process, starting early in life is crucial. Recent research... has documented the high returns that early childhood programs can pay in terms of subsequent educational attainment and in lower rates of social problems, such as teenage pregnancy and welfare dependency. The most successful early childhood programs appear to be those that cultivate both cognitive and noncognitive skills and that engage families in stimulating learning at home."

The Commission on No Child Left Behind has released its recommendations for improving the assessment and accountability law before its reauthorization this congressional session. The report issued by the Commission mentions early childhood education briefly as a future goal (see chapter 8, page 151 of the report) and endorses pre-kindergarten assessment to determine children’s educational needs instead of as an accountability tool. In a report touted as highlighting radical reform strategies, the Commission came up short by mentioning early childhood education only in passing, despite evidence that pre-k is a proven strategy for K-12 reform.

In her 2008 budget, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is proposing a pre-k funding increase of $200 million, to date the largest dollar-figure increase requested by a governor for FY08. Under Granholm's proposal (press release), school districts could apply for state pre-k funding to serve four year olds who meet certain risk factors. At least 50% of the children served in any district would have to live with families earning no more than 250% of the federal poverty level. Districts with higher proportions of eligible children would get funding priority, and all districts receiving pre-k aid would have to offer kindergarten services to children who attended their pre-k program the previous year.

On the New York Times website, columnist David Leonhardt narrates an excellent, three-minute slideshow of photos from Tulsa's famed Educare pre-k center. The piece offers a brief history of Oklahoma's pre-k program, the state's path to enrolling a larger share of four year olds than any other state, and the reporter's observations on a day spent in pre-k. After the slideshow, take Pre-K Now's virtual classroom tour to learn more about the factors that make pre-k centers like Educare high quality and effective.

Republican governors continue to make news this week with bold pre-k proposals. The latest is Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who delivered a biennial budget plan that would commit $40 million to provide pre-k to 4,000 additional children and $6 million to help center-based pre-k facilities build capacity for higher enrollment. She would also fund scholarships and other incentives aimed at increasing the size of the early childhood workforce and ensuring that teachers meet new degree requirements set to phase in by 2015.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry proposed an $80 million increase in pre-k funding in his 2007 state of the state address. The proposal aligns Perry with a bipartisan coalition of advocates for pre-k expansion and rejects recent recommendations by the state's lieutenant governor and legislative leadership, which would cut more than $20 million from pre-k programs. Pre-K Now's Executive Director, Libby Doggett, said in a statement, "Governor Perry has taken a stand on behalf of Texas families, and I look forward to seeing the Texas Legislature stand with him."

Key Virginia legislators are giving Gov. Tim Kaine's high-quality pre-k pilot proposal a chilly reception, with a House budget draft eliminating all $4.6 million for pre-k pilots and a Senate draft slashing funds by 25 percent. In a Roanoke Times article, a spokesman for Kaine says, "It is disappointing that some lawmakers appear reluctant to support smart, modest investments in innovative early childhood initiatives." House appropriators argue that the governor's pre-k proposal, the product of a year's work by his Start Strong Council, needs further development and is not the best use of state dollars.

The Houston Chronicle's coverage of a conference for early childhood educators makes the connection between better training and professional development for teachers and ensuring that students succeed in the face of tougher state standardized tests. The story makes clear that pre-k teachers are aware of their important role in preparing children for kindergarten and later encounters with high-stakes achievement tests, which begin in third grade in Texas. More than 2,000 educators attended the conference, which included workshops on on incorporating early literacy, math, and science skills into dynamic art lessons and group projects.
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Newly-elected Gov. Eliot Spitzer said from the beginning of his campaign that pre-k is an important part of his school reform plan, and in his budget address, he put an impressive amount of money where his mouth is. The governor has proposed a $99 million increase for Universal Prekindergarten (UPK), which would bring 2007-08 funding to $394 million. By 2010-2011, says Spitzer, UPK will be fully funded at $645 million. Also included in the plan is a task force to analyze the relationship between UPK, pre-k special education, and other early childhood services.
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Gov. Brad Henry bolstered his commitment to early education this week when he announced a proposal to incrementally expand Oklahoma's high-quality, voluntary pre-k program to three year olds. “Kids who take advantage of early education opportunities are more likely to graduate and get a good job and less likely to end up on welfare or in prison,” said Henry. The governor's budget will propose first-year funding of $15 million for pilot programs serving three year olds, with further expansion dependent on parent demand and available state dollars.
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At age four, children who live below the poverty line are 18 months behind their peers in most skill sets, and this gap persists through age ten. So says a brief from the National Center for Children in Poverty released this month. "Promoting effective early learning: What every policymaker and educator should know" explores the challenges faced by our nation’s poorest children and offers strategies for teachers, lawmakers, families, and others to close the achievement gap. The brief especially highlights the need for highly qualified teachers who can help children realize their full potential.

Cobb County, Georgia, says it will cease offering pre-k classes at the end of this year because the space is needed to meet state mandates for smaller class sizes in elementary grades. Despite substantial state funding for Georgia's pre-k-for-all program, the state's largest school district and now three Atlanta-area districts are not participating, citing a lack of classroom space. Local and state officials are holding out hope that private providers will join the program and pick up the slack, but skeptics say private providers' capacity and will are yet to be proven.
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NIEER’s newest study finds that children who attend the high-quality Arkansas Better Chance pre-k program have stronger vocabulary, math, and literacy skills. The study is yet another piece of solid evidence highlighting the positive benefits of pre-k, not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well. Pre-K Now’s Executive Director, Libby Doggett, said in a statement, “Governor Beebe and the state legislature have made quality a priority for pre-k, and this commitment is clearly paying off.”

As entertainment award shows dominate the news, there are a few ways to give outstanding pre-k teachers you know the star treatment. The U.S. Department of Education has opened nominations for its annual "American Stars of Teaching" awards, and the application materials for most 2008 statewide Teacher of the Year competitions can be found online. Nominating pre-k teachers for these prestigious awards not only gives you a chance to recognize outstanding educators, it also helps spread the word that pre-k teachers are professionals who deserve recognition for their efforts on behalf of children.

In his state of the state address, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced an initiative to provide parents of at-risk children with $4,000 scholarships to "attend a certified kindergarten readiness program of their choice". The governor was correct to spotlight the ability of early childhood education programs to close the achievement gap, but he needs to be sure that the programs meet the standards of high-quality pre-k that are proven to benefit all children during these key years of development.

As part of his 100 Days and Beyond: 2007 Action Plan, Mayor Adrian Fenty declared his intention to make voluntary, high-quality pre-k available to all three and four year olds in the nation's capital. Pre-K for All DC notes that the mayor's statement and similarly supportive remarks from new Council Chair Vincent Gray mark an auspicious start to a much-needed process of pre-k expansion and quality improvement. The group is urging District residents to write Mayor Fenty to ensure that his 2007 budget and legislative agenda make early education a top priority.

Hot off the press, our January e-newsletter can now be read online here. To receive the Pre-K Post in your inbox each month, take a minute to subscribe to our email list.

In a piece on the front page of the New York Times Business section, columnist David Leonhardt names pre-k for all three and four year olds as one of several urgent national initiatives that could be paid for with the funds the U.S. is spending on the Iraq war. Leonhardt ranks high-quality pre-k among such urgent priorities as heath care campaigns targeting cancer and heart disease, the reconstruction of New Orleans, and complete implementation of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations.
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Newly elected Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe is off to a strong start with an impressive budgetary commitment to pre-k, ensuring that Arkansan children get a strong start to their education. According to his state of the state address, the governor has proposed an additional $40 million investment in the high-quality Arkansas Better Chance pre-k program, which will increase pre-k access to include children whose families earn up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. In the governor's proposed budget, Arkansas Better Chance receives total funding of $111 million.

In her 2008 budget proposal, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius announced increased funding for early childhood care and education programs. The governor has proposed an additional $4.4 million to fund the second year of the state's Pre-K Pilot Program. The Kansas pilot is designed to be one of the highest quality programs in the country, and advocates are working closely with the governor on plans to give more families access to pre-k.
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New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson announced Wednesday that his FY08 budget proposal includes nearly double the current funding for state pre-kindergarten programs serving four year olds. The funds will be split between the Education Department and the Children, Youth and Families Department to offer participating families the choice of sending their child to a public or private pre-k program.
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Gov. Tim Kaine emphasized his proposal to fund pre-k pilot programs in his address to the Virginia General Assembly on Wednesday. The proposal is a step toward Kaine's vision of providing pre-k for all the state's children. But some in the GOP-controlled legislature are signaling resistance to a pre-k expansion.
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The National Task Force on Early Childhood Education for Hispanics just issued a demographic portrait, which shows that at least one in three Hispanic students starts kindergarten without adequate oral English skills. In a statement, Pre-K Now Executive Director Libby Doggett said, "Latino students face unique challenges in the U.S. education system, and it's time for lawmakers to find unique solutions. High-quality pre-kindergarten is one of those solutions."

Education Week's Quality Counts 2007 report identifies pre-k enrollment as one of 13 indicators of a state's potential for academic and economic success. In a story on NPR's Marketplace, Quality Counts author Chris Swanson linked early educational disadvantages to limited opportunities in the workforce.

As state lawmakers gear up for a new session, Governing magazine has listed early education as one of the top ten state legislative priorities for 2007. Projections of healthy state budgets will give legislators the means to fulfill campaign promises and make this session another period of substantial growth for pre-k.