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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2006
Contact:
Nathan James, Preschool for All,
310-786-7441 - office
206-313-1673 - cell
California Teachers Association Backs Preschool for All
LOS ANGELES – The California Teachers Association has endorsed Preschool for All, calling it the best way to expand access to early education. CTA, which represents 335,000 classroom teachers and school employees, is the largest organization of educators in California.
“This is an important initiative because it would give all children the opportunity to go to preschool,” said Barbara E. Kerr, president of the California Teachers Association. “And research supports what teachers have known all along: That students who go to quality preschools come to school ready to learn, do better in school and are more likely to graduate high school and go to college.”
Ben Austin, campaign manager for the Preschool for All initiative, said the backing of teachers will be critical. “We are honored to have CTA as a partner in bringing quality preschool to all four-year-olds in California. Voters trust teachers to speak about education issues. When Californians hear that Preschool for All will improve our education system and help kids learn to read, they will be hearing directly from the teachers working on the front lines in California’s schools,” Austin said.
A recent poll of kindergarten teachers showed almost unanimous support for preschool. Fully 96% of teachers believe that it is important for children to attend preschool before kindergarten. A similar number say that children who attend preschool are better prepared for kindergarten. The full report – Praise for Preschool -- is available from Preschool California.
CTA joins a broad, bipartisan coalition supporting Preschool for All, which includes business leaders, educators, organized labor, elected officials, and children’s advocate Rob Reiner. Three of California’s largest chambers of commerce – Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland – have joined with SEIU, leaders like Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, and former Education Secretary Richard Riordan in support of Preschool for All.
Public support for the initiative is also strong. Last week, the Public Policy Institute of California released an opinion poll showing that 66% of Californians and 63% likely voters support the Preschool for All initiative.
Preschool for All will guarantee access to quality preschool for all children one-year before kindergarten. The program will be part-day, voluntary, and will allow parents to choose the preschool program that best meets their needs.
For more information about the Preschool for All ballot initiative, visit: http://www.preschoolforallca.com.