Forced to tighten their fiscal belts even further due to the tough economy, state leaders across the country are seeking policy solutions that generate both immediate and long-term economic returns. As a result, high-quality pre-k programs, widely touted for improving school and social outcomes for children and states, are receiving lots of attention from governors in their State of the State addresses. A proven education reform strategy and a high-yielding economic development policy, pre-k continues to garner bipartisan support as a smart investment for states to make. We will continue to update this page until all 2011 State of the State addresses have been delivered.
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Alabama, Gov. Robert Bentley (R)
Alaska, Gov. Sean Parnell (R)
Arizona, Gov. Jan Brewer (R)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
Arkansas, Gov. Mike Beebe (D)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
California, Gov. Jerry Brown (D)
Colorado, Gov. John Hickenlooper (D)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
Connecticut, Gov. Dan Malloy (D)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
Delaware, Gov. Jack Markell (D)
Florida, Gov. Rick Scott (R)
Georgia, Gov. Nathan Deal (R)
“My budgets reflect my commitment to preserving the HOPE Program. Since its creation, it has served over 1.2 million students and provided benefits totaling more than 5 billion dollars. It has also established the first state universal program for Pre-Kindergarten that has served over 1 million children."
Hawaii, Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D)
Idaho, Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter (R)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
Illinois, Gov. Pat Quinn (D)
Indiana, Gov. Mitch Daniels (R)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
Iowa, Gov. Terry Branstad (R)
Kansas, Gov. Sam Brownback (R)
"Since state money will be tight and federal funds declining for the foreseeable future, we need to make sure we target our funding in the right places to give children the foundation they need for success. This is why I am proposing we dedicate $6 million this year from the Children's Initiative Fund to the development of early childhood education centers in our most needy school districts. I look forward to meeting with the Children’s Cabinet to focus more funding on early childhood reading."
Kentucky, Gov. Steve Beshear (D)
Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal (R)
Maine, Gov. Paul LePage (R)
Maryland, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D)
Massachusetts, Gov. Deval Patrick (D)
Michigan, Gov. Rick Snyder (R)
Minnesota, Gov. Mark Dayton (D)
Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour (R)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
Missouri, Gov. Jay Nixon (D)
Montana, Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D)
Nebraska, Gov. Dave Heineman (R)
“ First, my budget recommendations support the Department of Education, the University of Nebraska and Nebraska's P-16 Initiative in their joint efforts to develop a virtual high school. A rigorous online high school curriculum offers important opportunities to rural Nebraska and urban areas alike. The $8.5 million initiative will be funded from lottery funds.”…
"Nebraska's P-16 Initiative is committed and determined to strengthen Nebraska's education system. Senator Adams, thank you for your leadership as a Co-Chair of the P-16 Initiative."
"One of the goals of the P-16 Initiative is to eliminate academic achievement gaps. This is a very important goal because every child deserves a quality education. The best opportunity to reduce poverty and to provide every young person hope is a good education."
Nevada, Gov. Brian Sandoval (R)
New Hampsire, Gov. John Lynch (D)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie (R)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
New Mexico, Gov. Susana Martinez (R)
New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
North Carolina, Gov. Beverly Perdue (D)
North Dakota, Gov. Jack Dalrymple (R)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
Ohio, Gov. John Kasich (R)
Oklahoma, Gov. Mary Fallin (R)
Oregon, Gov. John Kitzhaber (D)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Corbett (R)
Rhode Island, Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I)
South Carolina, Gov. Nikki Haley (R)
South Dakota, Gov. dennis Daugaard (R)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
Tennessee, Gov. Bill Haslam (R)
Texas, Gov. Rick Perry (R)
Utah, Gov. Gary Herbert (R)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
Vermont, Gov. Peter Shumlin (D)
Virginia, Gov. Bob McDonnell (R)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
Washington, Gov. Chistine Gregoire (D)
"I propose we enact legislation creating one agency — the Department of Education — which will be focused solely on student education with one plan for a seamless system from pre-school to Ph.D.Our students deserve it and our parents demand it."
Washington, DC, Mayor Vincent Gray (D)
West Virginia, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker (R)
Wyoming, Gov. Matt Mead (R)
- No mention of pre-k or early learning
Pre-K: The First Step in Education Reform
