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Contact:
Karen Schimke
518/463-1896x25
kschimke@scaany.org
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Governor approves
$50 million additional UPK funding in 2006-07 Budget
Today the Winning Beginning NY campaign
applauds the $50 million increase in Universal Prekindergarten
funding in the 2006-07 state budget. That $50 million increase
would be the first new money for PreK in five years. The new funding
is desperately needed to continue to serve four-year-olds and
add to their numbers.
ÒWe congratulate the Governor and the Legislature for making
this significant investment in early education ,Ó said Karen Schimke
, Co-Director of the Winning Beginning NY campaign, whose focus
is helping the state follow through on its promise to offer free,
quality Universal Prekindergarten to children statewide. ÒWe know
PreK will help prepare our children to successfully compete in
today's global economy.Ó
The 1997 legislation creating UPK called for $500 million in
funding to be phased in over four years. In 2001, funding was
frozen at $201 million and has remained there since, allowing
access to four-year-olds in only 200 of the state's 700 school
districts.
Economists measuring the public impact of PreK believe the cost
of not making such an investment is just too great to ignore.
ÒThere's no better educational investment the state can make,Ó
says Nancy Kolben, Executive Director of Child Care, Inc. and
Co-Director of the Winning Beginning NY campaign.
One research study ÒThe Pre-K PaybackÓ by Clive Belfield, professor
at Queens College CUNY, found that providing prekindergarten to
every New York family could save the state up to $828 million
over the course of children's school career. The savings accrue
from reduced need for remedial services and reduced grade repetition,
among other things. Nationally, research shows that PreK more
than pays its way ø leading to reduced welfare, reduced crime
rates and increased high graduation.
ÒOur state leaders understand that New York 's economic future
is built in our classrooms,Ó added Schimke, Òand studies consistently
show that PreK is that first step.Ó
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