Even as they confront significant economic challenges and whittle spending to core priorities, 27 governors are proposing to increase or protect their state's pre-kindergarten investments for FY10. In fact, five times as many governors are proposing to protect or increase pre-k funding as are those who are calling for cuts to early education. Three governors are even introducing new initiatives in states that currently offer no publicly funded pre-k.
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Maintaining Momentum
Enacting legislative commitments and actually providing high-quality pre-k are two separate things. For FY10, two governors are working to ensure that their states turn pre-k policies into real opportunities for children and families.
Gov. John Corzine (D) New Jersey
Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) Georgia
Coming out of the Pre-K Wilderness
Among the biggest surprises of 2009 is the unprecedented level of new activity in three out of twelve states that currently provide no state-funded pre-k. Recognizing the importance of investments in quality early education, these governors have all proposed new initiatives.
Gov. John Hoeven (R) North Dakota
Gov. Don Carcieri (R) Rhode Island
Gov. Sarah Palin (R) Alaska
Stark Contrasts
In two of the country’s biggest states, differing approaches to pre-k expansion have produced dramatically different results. Their stories reveal that effective leadership in budgeting and management make the difference between a system that provides essential programs and one that falls short on old promises.
Gov. Ed. Rendell (D) Pennsylvania
Gov. David Paterson (D) New York
Raiding the Piggy Bank
Nationwide, governors are under tremendous fiscal and political pressure to spend wisely and close severe budget gaps. Unlike most governors who see pre-k investments as smart policy, these governors are instead attempting to raid voter-mandated funds for early childhood programs.
Gov. Jan Brewer (R) Arizona
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) California
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