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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2005

Preschool for All Initiative Gathers 1 Million Signatures

Children's Advocate Rob Reiner and California Business Leaders Announce Signature Submission for June 2006 Ballot

SAN FRANCISCO - Standing with business leaders from across California, children's advocate Rob Reiner announced today that the Preschool for All Act has collected one million signatures to qualify the initiative for the June 2006 ballot.

"One million Californians have said they want to vote on a comprehensive proposal to provide quality preschool to all four-year olds," Reiner said. "But this is just the beginning. Together with business leaders and chambers of commerce, we will build a coalition to tell every voter that if we want to fix our schools, we have to start with preschool."

Reiner was joined by business leaders and representatives from chambers of commerce across California, including the President and CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, Steve Falk. "I am proud to stand here with business leaders from the Bay Area, from Los Angeles, and all over California in support of Preschool for All," Falk said. "The business community has a stake in the Preschool for All initiative because it will have lasting effects on our communities and the economy for generations to come." Falk added, "We believe that it's time to give every child a chance to get an equal start and the chance to succeed in kindergarten and in life."

The announcement was made in front of The Family School in the Visitacion Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. The preschool is one of 26 sites in low-income areas funded by the San Francisco Preschool for All program. SF PFA serves 540 students and is funded by First 5 and a local proposition approved by San Francisco voters in 2004.

Statewide, only one out of five children has access to quality preschool. The Preschool for All Act will make quality, part-day preschool available to all four-year olds in California. The system will be voluntary, allowing parents to choose the preschool that meets their needs by building on the existing network of public, private and nonprofit preschool providers. The initiative insists upon quality for children and their families; adequate qualifications and compensation for instructional staff; flexibility to meet local needs; and accountability to the public.

Business leaders are supporting Preschool for All because it is a smart investment with a strong return. A recent study by economists at the RAND Corporation confirmed the benefits of a universal preschool program. The researchers found that every dollar California invests in quality preschool would return $2.62 in savings from reduced remedial education, lower drop out rates, and less crime. (Read full study:http://www.rand.org/publications/MG/MG349/index.html)

"Our board voted to endorse the Preschool for All initiative because we are committed to improving the education system in California," said Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Ron Gastelum. "Our future workforce, our economy, and our quality of life depend on it."

Preschool for All is building a broad coalition that includes California's business, labor, and education leaders that includes the first, fourth, and eighth largest chambers of commerce in California.

Preschool for All Business Supporters
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
California Black Chamber of Commerce
Alameda County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Greater El Sereno Chamber of Commerce
San Francisco Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Rusty Hammer, President & CEO, L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce
Richard Riordan, Attorney, Former Mayor of L.A., Former Secretary of Education
Sherry Lansing, Former President, Paramount Pictures
Philip Halperin, President, Silver Giving Foundation
Warren Hellman, Chairman, Hellman & Friedman LLC
Eli Broad, Founder, SunAmerica, Inc.
Laura & Gary Lauder, Founders, Lauder Partners
Aubry Stone, President/CEO, California Black Chamber of Commerce
Mel Washington, President, S.F. Black Chamber of Commerce

In the coming days, more than one million signatures will be delivered to local election officials in all 58 California counties. Once the signatures are verified, the Secretary of State is expected to qualify the Preschool for All initiative for the June 2006 ballot.

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