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For Immediate Release
April 21, 2005
Gov. Blagojevich’s pre-school expansion efforts
receive national recognition
National report calls Governor a “Pre-K budget
hero”
SPRINGFIELD – A national report released today praises
Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich for his continued commitment to
expanding pre-school access in Illinois. Despite unprecedented
budget deficits, Gov. Blagojevich has made a strong financial
commitment to early childhood education, with increases
of more than 30 percent over the last two years. The Governor’s
proposal for FY 2006 is the third year of a three-year
$90 million plan to significantly increase access to state
pre-school in Illinois.
The report, Leadership Matters: Governor’s FY
2006 Pre-K Proposals, was released today by Pre-K
Now, a national organization. The report described Governor
Blagojevich as a “Pre-K budget hero” for continuing
his push for pre-school expansion despite difficult financial
conditions.
“This is fitting recognition for Governor Blagojevich,
who has shown a unique commitment to expanding pre-school
in Illinois,” said State Board of Education Chairman
Jesse Ruiz. “Thousands of children and working families
will reap lifelong benefits because they have access to
pre-school classes that this funding created. Early childhood
education is the most important investment we can make
in the future of our state.”
This is the second time in the last six months that Illinois
has received national recognition for its leadership in
early childhood education. In November, 2004, the National
Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) released
its 2004 State Pre-School Yearbook, which ranked Illinois
as one of the top three states for program quality. Illinois
received praise for its teacher training as one of only
13 states to require certification for its early childhood
teachers.
Pre-K Now collaborates with advocates and policymakers
to lead a movement for high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten
for all three and four year olds and works to raise public
awareness about the need for high-quality pre-kindergarten
for all children. The organization’s vision is a
nation in which every child enters kindergarten prepared
to succeed.
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