Riley Touts Pre-K Plan

By Jessica Taloney Reporter

Pre-K is as important as TK. Governor Bob Riley says investments in education need to be just as much of a priority as investments in business. Riley Touts Pre-K Plan

Published: Wed, December 12, 2007 - 7:09 pm Last Updated: Wed, December 12, 2007 - 7:43 pm

Jessica Taloney

When officials broke ground on the $3.7 billion Thyssenkrupp steel plant, Governor Bob Riley said it was an investment in the state's future. And, when a four-year-old child goes to preschool, the Governor says it's an investment that is equally as important.
"Almost habitually for the last generation Alabama has always been 48th, 49th or 50th by just about any standard, but that's changed," said Governor Riley talking about the state's improvement in school test scores. But, Riley says there is more work to be done, especially when it comes to preschools, which only 4% of Alabama kids participate in.
During a tour of a pre-kindergarten classroom at Weinacker's Montessori School in Mobile, Riley unveiled a plan to triple state funding of similar programs, and hopefully triple the number of kids who have access to them.
According to the Governor's office, the current state budget allocates $10 million to educate four year olds, but Riley wants to shell out an additional $20 million next year bringing the total preschool package to $30 million.
"There's one thing educators tell me when I go anywhere in the country, if you really want the complete package, if you really want to build the best education system in America you have to have a Pre-K program," said Riley.
The Governor's office says under the plan called "First Class Voluntary Pre-K" parent's income will determine how much money a family contributes to their child's preschool tuition. Instead of all parents paying the full $300 per month, Riley's plan suggests some parents may pay just $40, which he hopes will give more kids the opportunity for early education.