Pre-K Now Newswire

Pew Report: Facing Grim Economy, Most State Legislatures Continue to Prioritize Pre-K

esnyder@pewtrusts.org (Liz Snyder) (Liz Snyder) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia - which faced budget gaps of up to 35 percent - chose to increase or hold steady funding for pre-kindergarten education, according to an analysis released today by Pre-K Now, a campaign of the Pew Center on the States. "In most states, lawmakers recognize that quality pre-k should be a core priority because it provides lasting benefits for children and strong economic returns on investment for taxpayers," said Marci Young, project director of Pre-K Now.

Policy Paper Touts Advantages of Using Federal Title I Dollars to Support Pre-K Programs

esnyder@pewtrusts.org (Liz Snyder) — Wed, 9 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0500

With an infusion of Title I dollars through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, school leaders have an opportunity to expand local pre-k programs to more children. A new Pre-K Now policy paper outlines the increased federal investments in Title I and highlights districts that have used this funding stream successfully to establish and strengthen their early education programs.

Report Encourages Public Schools to Expand Pre-K Opportunities Through Community Partnerships

esnyder@pewtrusts.org (Liz Snyder) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0500

A new report by Pre-K Now, a campaign of the Pew Center on the States, shares advice and models for community partnerships that help public school administrators expand high-quality early learning opportunities to more young children. "Beyond the School Yard" describes how collaborative pre-k programs work and what benefits and challenges these efforts often bring to K-12, Head Start, child care and other community-based groups.

Pew's Pre-K Now Campaign Welcomes Congressional Action on President's $10 Billion Early Learning Pledge

esnyder@pewtrusts.org (Liz Snyder) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Pre-K Now, a campaign of the Pew Center on the States, applauded the promise this week by House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller to act on a legislative package containing a $10 billion, 10-year investment to strengthen state early learning programs, including pre-kindergarten. "Pew has supported state efforts to increase pre-kindergarten access and quality for eight years, and the Early Learning Challenge Fund would help continue the drive toward evidence-based early education policy for the next decade," said Libby Doggett, deputy director of the Pew Center on the States.

Pew Center on the States Comments on President Obama's FY10 Budget Request

esnyder@pewtrusts.org (Liz Snyder) — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Susan K. Urahn, managing director of the Pew Center on the States, released the following statement about President Obama's budget request for FY10: "The president's budget demonstrates a commitment to proven strategies that promote children's school readiness and our nation's prosperity. Federal and state governments need to invest their limited resources in research-based programs that produce the greatest returns, and the Administration's early childhood initiatives reflect that wise approach.

Pew Study: Despite Budget Shortfalls, the Majority of Governors are Increasing or Protecting Pre-Kindergarten Funding

esnyder@pewtrusts.org (Liz Snyder) — Tue, 5 May 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Five times as many governors are proposing to protect or increase pre-k, as are those who are calling for cuts to early education. Three governors are even introducing new initiatives in states that currently offer no publicly funded pre-k, according to a national analysis released today by Pre-K Now, a campaign of the Pew Center on the States.

Pew Statement on Report Assessing Pre-Kindergarten Enrollment and Quality

esnyder@pewtrusts.org (Liz Snyder) — Wed, 8 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Susan K. Urahn, managing director of the Pew Center on the States, released the following statement on the "The State of Preschool 2008: State Preschool Yearbook." "At the current rate of program expansion, according to NIEER, it will take another 20 years to achieve voluntary pre-k for all four-year-olds. This slow pace could amount to a generation of missed chances to improve children's lives and develop the human capital our economy needs."

Quality Pre-Kindergarten Wins Bipartisan Support of Lieutenant Governors

esnyder@pewtrusts.org (Liz Snyder) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0500

The country's lieutenant governors are joining the growing chorus of Americans - including military and law enforcement officials, economists, teachers, doctors, religious leaders and parents - working to prioritize public investments in high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten for all children. Members of the National Lieutenant Governors Association passed a resolution pledging support for pre-k at their recent Winter Meeting in Washington, DC.

Pew Center on the States Statement on ABC News Segments on Pre-Kindergarten

esnyder@pewtrusts.org (Liz Snyder) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Pre-K Now, a campaign of the Pew Center on the States, issued the following statement in response to recent segments on pre-kindergarten that aired on the ABC News: "The Good Morning America and 20/20 segments presented viewers with an unbalanced, inaccurate picture of the important issue of pre-kindergarten. The growing success of the movement to expand voluntary, high-quality pre-k is directly attributable to the fact that study after study has demonstrated that these programs yield a proven return on investment by benefiting children and taxpayers in both the short- and long-term."

Pre-K Now To Join Pew Center on the States

esnyder@pewtrusts.org (Liz Snyder) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500

A leading pre-kindergarten advocacy group, Pre-K Now, is joining the Pew Center on the States as part of Pew's renewed campaign to show the proven benefits of early investment in children. Since 2001, Pew has committed more than $83 million to advance a state-led movement for high-quality pre-kindergarten for all 3- and 4-year-olds. Much of this work has been led by Pre-K Now, which was launched in 2002 with Pew funding as part of a broader early education initiative.

New Report: Middle-Class Families in Difficult Pre-K Pinch

esnyder@pewtrusts.org (Liz Snyder) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500

For far too many middle-class families, the very program proven to help all young children enter school ready to learn and succeed is beyond their reach, according to a new report released today by Pre-K Now. "The Pre-K Pinch: Early Education and the Middle Class" reveals that eligibility requirements and prohibitively high costs lead such families to sacrifice basic household needs to pay for early education and care for their children, or to settle for low-quality options with unproven benefits.

National Poll: Nearly 7 in 10 Voters Want More Federal Support for State-funded Pre-K

esnyder@pewtrusts.org (Liz Snyder) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:30:00 -0500

Pre-K Now today released results of a national poll on voters' views of state and federal support for high-quality pre-kindergarten programs. The findings reveal broad support for making voluntary pre-k for all children a larger fiscal priority, and suggest that candidates' positions on the issue could influence many Americans' votes this fall. Notably, seven in 10 voters - and 7 in 10 "swing voters" - support a proposeal for new federal grants to help states increase the quality and availability of their pre-k programs.