Holly Barnes Higgins
Office 202.862.9863
Mobile 202.834.6846
hhiggins@preknow.org

"We applaud Congresswoman Hirono's vision and commitment to providing children across this country with greater access to high-quality early learning programs that will benefit them, their families, and ultimately, our nation. The bold legislation proposed today reflects the "trickle up" phenomenon we"re seeing in which national leaders are responding to an unprecedented level of momentum for pre-kindergarten at the state level.

"Still, while Governors and state legislators are making significant investments in pre-k, state-funded programs currently serve less than 20 percent of our 3- and 4-year olds, and program quality and access remain serious issues. This legislation lends a strong hand of support to states that are working to improve access to high-quality pre-k – a critically important step in strengthening our country's education system from the foundation up."

The legislation, introduced today by Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and co-sponsored by Reps. George Miller (D-CA), Susan Davis (D-CA), John Tierney (D-MA), and Robert Andrews (D-NJ) would provide $1,000,000,000 (per fiscal year through 2013) in federal funds for states with pre-k programs to assist in teacher training, small class size, and comprehensive services such as health screening and nutrition. The grant would be available first to states with significant populations of low-income children and then to other states, all with existing pre-k programs.

Pre-K Now collaborates with state advocates and policymakers to lead a movement for high-quality pre¬kindergarten for all three and four year olds. The following funders contribute to making this important work possible: The Pew Charitable Trusts, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the McCormick Tribune Foundation, RGK Foundation, the Foundation for Child Development, CityBridge Foundation, and the Schumann Fund for New Jersey.

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• Video of Rep. Hirono's one-minute floor speech introducing the "PRE-K Act"