Clinton Proposes Pre-K Access For All Kids

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.