Word: preschooler
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...contrast, Bush's proposals for early childhood are aimed at the kids who, studies show, benefit most from preschool: the poor. Citing mixed reviews of Head Start, he would shift the program's address from the Health and Human Services Department to the Education Department and emphasize educational pursuits like word recognition and counting over social services. The cost of this change? Zero. Bush saves his dollars for his $5 billion reading initiative, which does not kick in until kids reach kindergarten...
When Sherri Larsen casts her vote for President, she will be thinking of her first-grade son. A divorced mother of three on a pinched budget, Larsen could not afford preschool tuition. But thanks to Georgia's pioneering universal pre-K program, which guarantees each of the state's four-year-olds a year of school, she didn't pay a cent. Her son entered kindergarten fully versed in his ABCs and is now reading a year ahead of pace. Says Larsen: "I just can't believe this program isn't available in other states...
...Asked early in the election which single program would distinguish him from any other candidate, Gore cited his $50 billion "universal preschool" proposal, which would extend the Georgia model to the nation. It's the single costliest - and boldest - piece of his education agenda. Gore would also pump an extra $10 billion over 10 years into Head Start, the existing federal preschool program for poor children, which would continue to provide them with both educational enrichment and social services like meals and health care...
...Many industrial nations have long funded preschool for all - and with great results. The early returns on Georgia's five-year-old program are promising, with the first beneficiaries, now third-graders, outpacing their peers in math and reading. And Gore says his proposal would provide financial relief across the board, especially to middle-income families. But the program could be costly to taxpayers. Experts say Gore's "universal" measure could funnel money to some parents who don't need it. And to make the program viable, states must ante up matching funds. Though 42 states now bankroll some form...
...break down the barriers that stand in the way of a good education for all children? The centerpiece of Gore's agenda is ensuring that every child in America has high-quality health care coverage within the next four years. He would spend $50 billion to make available universal preschool to every child. Bush fails to offer a comprehensive approach to health care and early childhood education, which are critical to making sure that kids enter school ready to learn...