Latest Pre-Kindergarten News
Jan. 22- Feb. 2, 2005

February 2, 2005
Teachers say pre-k classes help kids succeed (WBIR-TV Knoxville)
Teachers are applauding Governor Phil Bredesen's plan to increase funding for Pre-kindergarten programs. Right now, the state distributes $10 million in funds for such programs. The governor would like to add $25 million to the equation, funds that would come from the state's lottery. Teachers say preschool helps kids succeed in later grades. "It really gives a good foundation," explains Mamosa Foster, principal at Sam E. Hill Elementary School, a Knoxville elementary school with a pre-k program. "When they get to kindergarten, the teacher doesn't have to go to square one and start on a lower level. They can go with it. Some of our kids are reading when they leave (the preschool classroom)." Eventually, Sam E. Hill teachers hope to expand the pre-k program by including Spanish in the curriculum.

Voluntary Pre K Program (WDEF-TV Chattanooga)
While solving the problems with TennCare occupy much of Governor Phil Bredesen's time... Improving Tennessee education tops his priorty list over the coming months. As outlined his his state of the state address, Bredesen wants to set aside 25-million dollars to expand the Tennessee's preschool programs. For four year olds in pre-k at Hardy Elementary it's fun, games and a lot of hard work. Their teachers want to make sure they hit the ground running once they start kindergarten. Kathy Robertson Pre-K Teacher The majority of the children that come to us come about two years behind. With programs like Headstart and Title One, these students have steadily improved their reading and math skills.

February 1, 2005
State of the State Address (27 minutes) (WSMV-TV Nashville Video)

Education tops Bredesen's list of budget priorities (Associated Press)
NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Education topped Gov. Phil Bredesen's list of budget priorities, with more than $194 million in new money going toward expanding the state's preschool program and bolstering K-12 education. "In preparing our budgets and priorities, we _ Democrats and Republicans alike _ must stay focused on the fundamentals, and the most fundamental priority of all has to be the one that opens so many doors: the education of our children," Bredesen said Monday night in presenting his $25 billion budget to lawmakers. Education Commissioner Lana Seviers said the governor's investment shows he's doing what he said he would, and actually "walking the talk." "In my two years in this position, we have a governor who's put the resources behind the rhetoric," Seviers said. "He has said education is his top priority, and he's made it so." Bredesen wants to spend $25 million in new money on pre-kindergarten programs, completely funded by lottery money. The governor hopes to duplicate efforts other states have had preparing 4-year-olds for school.

Even more pre-K money coming later, governor says (Tennessean)
$25 million 'down payment' will expand program to improve readiness for school. A record number of Tennessee's 4-year-olds may be able to sign up for public pre-kindergarten programs as early as this fall. That's because Gov. Phil Bredesen wants to rapidly expand the school-readiness program next year by earmarking $25 million in lottery proceeds to triple the number of classrooms statewide. ''When I meet with groups of teachers, I often ask them, 'If you had another dollar to spend on education, where would you put it?' and, overwhelmingly, they say, 'Pre-K,' '' he said yesterday. But the $25 million is just a down payment. He vowed to keep adding lottery or state dollars to the program — which will target low-income children at first — until it's available to every child. The move was praised by educators, parents, state education officials and pre-K advocates, who have been pushing for a widespread early childhood education program in this state.

ABCs of pre-K (Tennessean)
Want to know more about how Tennessee's ''Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten for All'' program would work? Here are a few of the basics: It's not mandatory. Parents, communities and school districts can decide locally whether they want to add or expand pre-K classrooms. It's free to parents. It's open to any 4-year-old, although priority will be given to struggling students from low-income families. Not all pre-K classes will be located in schools. State funding will go directly to school districts, which might choose to contract with Head Start and other nonprofit or private agencies. Most of the funding will be provided by the state, but local systems will have to kick in some money based on ability to pay. Systems with a large tax base, such as Metro, would have to pay a larger percentage of the cost, while districts with little or no tax base would get more state help. Want more details? The state will launch www.tnprek.org today to provide more information.

January 28, 2005
Flexibility in funding helps schools ( Nashville City Paper)
Flexibility in Gov. Phil Bredesen’s pre-K proposal may ease local efforts to afford the local match required to participate in a voluntary state pre-K program. School systems must provide local dollars to match state dollars that would be available for the first time for pre-K programs. However, school systems may meet that funding requirement through in-kind funding sources or federal funds, according to information provided by Patrick Smith of the Governor’s office at the State board of education meeting Thursday. This option could help already cash-strapped districts participate in the governor’s program without as heavy a demand on precious operating dollars. “It’s either that or we’re going to have to go after a tax increase,” State Board member Richard Ray said.

January 23, 2005
Charting the state’s path ( Chattanooga Times-Free Press)
Governor to emphasize education in budget talk. NASHVILLE — Halfway through his first term, Gov. Phil Bredesen says he intends to focus on urban school needs and pump an additional $11 million into the districts that serve large numbers of at-risk students. In particular, the budget will recognize "the unique situation urban schools are in," Gov. Bredesen said. "We are trying to begin going down the road to alleviate those issues." As he prepares to unveil his budget on Jan. 31, Gov. Bredesen also will press for $25 million for preschool programs. In addition, he said he wants to emphasize a technology-driven economy and improved environmental stewardship. "The path was laid out in the first two years," Gov. Bredesen said. "We don’t have all the money we want in the third year, but we can start thinking now about what we want to do." "Education, environment and the economy are the big things," he said. "They transcend things like how are you going to split up the lottery money or special sales taxes in Pigeon Forge." In an interview with the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Thursday in Nashville, the governor said TennCare was "flawed from the beginning," and the health care infrastructure in the state had "withered but is not gone."

Bredesen to seek $25 million for pre-K program (Associated Press)
Funds would include extra lottery proceeds, governor tells civic group. MEMPHIS — Gov. Phil Bredesen said yesterday he will ask lawmakers for $25 million in new money, part of it siphoned from lottery proceeds, to expand the state's pilot preschool program. Bredesen said the move could more than double the number of children, 3,000, now served by the program, which prepares 4-year-olds for elementary school. In a speech to the civic group Mpact Memphis, Bredesen said the new funds would include money from extra lottery proceeds, though he wasn't specific about the amount. He called the proposal a ''first step'' toward voluntary preschool for all Tennessee children and said several new classes could be open this fall. ''Educators on the front lines see it most clearly,'' Bredesen said. ''I've spoken with kindergarten teachers who say they know on the first day of school which children have attended preschool and which haven't.'' Preschool not only helps children learn but is a ''good return on our investment — with each dollar spent yielding dividends many times over,'' he said.

January 22, 2005
Bredesen lists education goals in forum here (Commercial Appeal)
Defends TennCare reforms against criticisms children would be hurt. Gov. Phil Bredesen said Friday his priority this year is to increase education funds -- especially for the state's youngest pupils. He spoke to a small group of city leaders and educators at Southwest Tennessee Community College's Downtown branch. He also addressed reports that thousands of children will go without health care if his plan to cut TennCare goes through. The speech was hosted by Mpact Memphis, a group that works to help improve the Mid-South's social, civic and political environment. Bredesen said he plans to allocate $25 million to get every 4-year-old in the state in pre-kindergarten. "The new money, which will include some funding from extra lottery proceeds, could more than double the number of children currently attending pre-K classes," he said. He also plans to propose that $11 million be given to school districts with large numbers of at-risk students, particularly Memphis City Schools.