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TV News Story
March 22, 2006
ABC 7, KGO-TV
SF Mayor, D.A., Support Preschool Initiative
The "preschool for all" campaign got a big endorsement today from San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and the city's D.A. Kamala Harris. The measure to provide a free preschool education for every four-year-old in California is on the June ballot. While there is overwhelming support for Proposition 82, its opponents are gaining some momentum.
Research tells us preschooler Analisa will benefit from an early education. Some kids at Holy Family Day Home already attend this preschool at no cost to their families. That's because San Francisco set aside $3.3 million to help start a universal preschool program.
Donna Cahill believes kids without at least one year of preschool are at a disadvantage.
Donna Cahill, Holy Family Day Home: "They will be developmentally behind, they will not be prepared for kindergarten, they will not be prepared for first grade."
In June, Californians will vote on a measure to bring preschool to all four-year-olds in the state.
Today, San Francisco's mayor endorsed Proposition 82. The city's district attorney also gave the measure a thumb's up.
Kamala Harris, San Francisco District Attorney: "Early education of children is a crime prevention measure. For that reason it's a public safety issue."
But noticeably missing today was the creator of Proposition 82 Rob Reiner. The actor and director had to return to Los Angeles for a family emergency.
The measure enjoys a lot of support. But an anti-proposition 82 sentiment is growing. The measure seeks free preschool for all, even those families who can afford to pay for it. Some educators would rather see all the money spent on high risk kids.
Pamela Rigg, The Montessori School of San Leandro: "It's a generally beautiful idea, but it's not targeted to the children we want to serve."
Another set back is a UC Santa Barbara study showing those gains everyone talks about are lost by the third grade.
The program will be funded by increasing income taxes on California's wealthiest people. Some with deep pockets oppose it. One of those is John Fisher, the son of the Gap founders. Fisher made a $25,000 dollar donation to the campaign opposing Proposition 82. A copy of the campaign finance report filed with the California secretary of state shows Fisher made the contribution last December.