We want public preschool

A new poll suggests broad bipartisan support for federally funded public preschool, reports Lillian Mongeau on the Ed Source website. The poll from the First Five Years Fund found that 50 percent of the 800 registered voters polled nationwide said they "strongly" support President Barack Obama's $75 billion proposal to expand public preschool offerings by raising the federal tobacco tax. Another 20 percent said they "somewhat" support it. A majority of likely voters from every major party -- including 60 percent of registered Republicans -- supported the plan, according to the bipartisan polling team that conducted the poll. Several typically conservative groups such as business organizations and retired military officers have come out in favor of the idea, arguing that research has shown a high return on investment for money spent on early education. Still, no Republican lawmaker is in favor of the president's proposal. Even Republican governors who support public preschool in their own states, like Gov. Nathan Deal in Georgia, have balked at paying for the program with a new tax. Advocates are hoping the new poll might sway politicians, and are optimistic based on some of the poll results. More

Source:  Public Education News Blast

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Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is an education support organization that works as a collaborative partner in high-poverty communities