Clinton Proposes Pre-K Access For All Kids

Democratic Presidential Candidate Proposes $10B Program Aimed At 4-Year-Olds

(AP)  Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton is proposing a $10 billion federal program aimed at providing voluntary pre-kindergarten for all 4-year-old children in America.

"Our educational system needs to be strengthened from start to finish, but we have to start where it all begins," Clinton told an audience of children, teachers and parents.

Clinton said she would pay for the program by closing tax loopholes and eliminating Bush administration programs she disagrees with.

"There are so many places to cut the money that is being spent in this government. Let's start by cutting 500,000 of the private contractors the Bush administration has had who don't do a job that is held accountable in any way," Clinton said, adding that ending the Iraq war will also provide money for investing in programs.

She said quality pre-kindergarten programs will more than pay for themselves because children will be less likely to enter special education programs, drop out of school or enter the welfare system. She also said preparing children for school also reduces behavioral problems.

"If you add up all the benefits, it's really astonishing," the New York senator and former first lady said, citing one study that says for every dollar invested in pre-kindergarten, there is at least a seven fold return. "We consistently fail to invest in what will save us money."

Clinton presented the proposal at an appearance Monday at North Beach Elementary School in Miami Beach. Before the announcement, she visited a pre-kindergarten classroom where children sang for her and answered questions.

She praised Florida for starting a statewide pre-kindergarten program, but noted that only 20 percent of the nation's children are in state-paid programs.

Her proposal would provide federal funds to states that agree to establish a plan for making voluntary pre-kindergarten services universally available for all 4-year-olds. States that already do so would receive money to expand or enhance the programs.

Teachers would need at least a bachelor's degree and specialize in early childhood education and the plan would require low student-teacher ratios, Clinton said.

"If children start school behind it is likely they will stay behind and by the third and fourth grade they are already feeling like they don't fit in, they're uncomfortable, they're being labeled failures and I don't think that's what we want for our children," Clinton said.

States would match federal funds made available to them dollar-for-dollar and could use the assistance to expand their existing Head Start programs.

The program would start with $5 billion and expand to $10 billion over the next five years as states increase their commitments. States would be required to provide services at no cost to children from low-income families and those from "limited English homes," Clinton's campaign said in a statement before the announcement.

"If states have achieved these quality benchmarks, they will be able to use the funds flexibly to meet the needs of their local communities," the campaign said. "They could serve younger children; raise teachers' salaries; provide additional support and training for teachers or engage in other activities that expand and improve their pre-K programs."

The federal funds would be allocated through state governors.

[bourbon83]

That 10 billion could be better spent on M50's on our border! Hillary's either an awful ugly Miss American contestant or has just lost what little touch with reality she's ever had. 4 year olds definately don't need to be subjected to pre brainwashing by unqualified,anti american, unemployed libs. Whats next, taking the baby straight from the hospital into Pre nurery school? or Post K inserted between Kindergarten and 1st grade. Ridiculous!

[drivelphobe]

As long as Big Hillary wants to provide baby-sitting and free meals to every welfare child age 4, why not reinstitue bussing so they can all be picked up at the homeless shelter and delivered home again. Enough of this trying to educate the offspring of these worthless parents. Education is like food, medical care, legal advice, and everything else that people desire; its quantitiy and quality are determined by ones ability to pay. No money, tough! This has got to stop. NO more freebies from our government.

[realpatriot1]

Gunnerv,

How much are your taxes going up for babysitting?
How many tax loopholes do you currently use?

[lestb35]

Are the classes in Spanish or English?

[gunnerv1]

And exacly how much are my Taxes going to go up for this Baby sitting job?

[sjw1253]

IMHO - Wherever the funds come from - education should be number one...

Anyone who thinks that keeping the cycles of ignorance churning is alright - is pretty dumb in my book...

We certainly need a proactive attack on education and privitization is not the answer...

Too many children who do not have the benefits of educated parents - who have children for parents (who have been lost in the school systems) need a boost in their opportunities to become educated adults who can live a meaningful and productive life (away from all of the crime and misdemeanors)...

[bourbon83]

anthony;I am going to vote for her the only chance we have is to get her husband back and if that means she is the next President then so be it.

So sad... Those two put more of America up for sale than any politicians in history. How you can idolize pathetic pukes like those two shows how little you actually think for yourself and how delusional you are. I do believe you must be on the handout line. Those are the only idiots that think the Clinton years were glamourous.

[bourbon83]

Canyou: We should be spending $$ helping our own instead of spending HUNDREDS of BILLIONS of dollars in a war we cannot win. Imagine what we could have done with those hundreds of billions of dollars??? We could have eliminated most poverty in america. WOW

The only reason we can't win a war is because of lack of unity, lack of committment. Libs are practiced in defeat and therefore will always be defeated. We've had decades to eliminate poverty. Free handouts only create more handout mentality that leads to more poverty. Anyone able bodied person living in poverty in America today is there by choice and laziness! What is so difficult about kindergarten that kids need pre kidergarten? Absolutely nothing!! This would just be another program for unqualified teachers, and grant leeches to get employment, and ad more of a burden to the taxpayer.

[antoniof123]

I am going to vote for her the only chance we have is to get her husband back and if that means she is the next President then so be it.

[vinepetal904]

perhaps instead of chasing ignorant naked lazy profane kids through the garden for battering practice, god and congress should let the kids teach them a little about economics ... ten or thirty thousand kids five and under die each day by hunger alone ... how many terrorists die? how many soldiers? ... how many infants and toddlers crawl in on the front pages and scream: 'let the soldiers die, we want lunch'