Culver signs $60 million expansion of preschool offerings
8:15 AM
Posted: Friday, May 11, 2007
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Gov. Chet Culver has signed into law a $60 million package that backers said would make preschool programs available to most 4-year-olds in Iowa and bolster learning at a crucial stage of development.
"It will position Iowa well to be the first state in the nation to offer universal preschool for all," Culver said Thursday during a news conference at a Des Moines preschool center.
Under the measure, the state will spend an extra $15 million a year for each of the next four years to boost preschool offerings. The increased spending is based, in part, on research showing how crucial early brain development is on a person's life.
"We now know that 90 percent of brain development takes place before they take a step in a kindergarten classroom," said Culver, who was surrounded by giggling children. "This fact requires us to reassess our public policy and invest in our kids at an even earlier age."
The new program will make preschool programs available to more than 90 percent of the state's 4-year-olds. It's a voluntary program, and parents aren't required to send children to preschool.
Shannon Cofield, president of the United Way of Central Iowa, which helps finance the preschool program Culver visited, said only recently have educators begun to focus on preschool offerings. She said the measure Culver signed into law would help reshape education.
"It will help generations of children start kindergarten better prepared," Cofield said.
At Thursday's event, Culver recounted the story of recently being read a story by his daughter.
"I have witnessed the importance of early childhood education," said Culver, who has a 4-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter.
AP-CS-05-11-07 0105EDT
"It will position Iowa well to be the first state in the nation to offer universal preschool for all," Culver said Thursday during a news conference at a Des Moines preschool center.
Under the measure, the state will spend an extra $15 million a year for each of the next four years to boost preschool offerings. The increased spending is based, in part, on research showing how crucial early brain development is on a person's life.
"We now know that 90 percent of brain development takes place before they take a step in a kindergarten classroom," said Culver, who was surrounded by giggling children. "This fact requires us to reassess our public policy and invest in our kids at an even earlier age."
The new program will make preschool programs available to more than 90 percent of the state's 4-year-olds. It's a voluntary program, and parents aren't required to send children to preschool.
Shannon Cofield, president of the United Way of Central Iowa, which helps finance the preschool program Culver visited, said only recently have educators begun to focus on preschool offerings. She said the measure Culver signed into law would help reshape education.
"It will help generations of children start kindergarten better prepared," Cofield said.
At Thursday's event, Culver recounted the story of recently being read a story by his daughter.
"I have witnessed the importance of early childhood education," said Culver, who has a 4-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter.
AP-CS-05-11-07 0105EDT
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