County to have three new pre-K classrooms

Gov. Phil Bredesen, state Sen. Jerry Cooper, state Rep. Charles Curtiss and state Rep. Judd Matheny have announced 257 new pre-K classrooms will open for the 2007-08 school year serving approximately 4,000 additional 4-year-olds.

Bredesen requested $25 million new state dollars to expand Tennessee’s voluntary pre-K program, raising the investment for the 2007-08 school year to $80 million.

‘We have expanded access to our quality pre-K program from serving 3,000 students three years ago to 17,000 today,’ Bredesen said. ‘This commitment to early childhood education means over the last three years, we’ve helped nearly 40,000 boys and girls start their education on a path designed to help them achieve academically in the long run. Tennesseans want more students to graduate from high school and the task starts with making sure students start out on the right foot from day one.’

Tennessee’s voluntary pre-K program now operates in 94 out of 95 counties and 133 of 136 school systems, providing a high-quality early childhood education. The National Institute for Early Education Research has ranked Tennessee as one of six states maintaining the highest pre-K standards in the nation for the past two years.

‘Pre-K programs prepare our children to be successful in school from the start,’ said Cooper. ‘Our support for these young children will benefit all of our community in the years to come.’

‘Our community has stepped up to show support for all children by providing new pre-K classrooms,’ said Curtiss. ‘This year more families will have the opportunity to provide their children with a great start to their schooling.’

‘Pre-K is the foundation of a strong educational system,’ said Matheny. ‘We must ensure that our children graduate on time and with the skills they need to succeed. Pre-K is critical to ensuring this success.’