[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 138 (Saturday, October 28, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         PROVIDING RESOURCES AND EDUCATION FOR KIDS ACT (PRE-K)

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                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 26, 2000

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, today, kindergarten teachers estimate that one 
in three children enters the classroom unprepared to meet the 
challenges of school. Prekindergarten programs are key to helping these 
young people be ready to learn when they attend their first day of 
school. Many children, however, do not have access to pre-k programs. 
While several states, including Wisconsin, are expanding their 
prekindergarten programs, only one state in the country, Georgia, 
currently has a universal pre-k program.
  To help states meet the challenge of providing quality 
prekindergarten programs, I introduced the Providing Resources and 
Education for Kids Act (Pre-K Act) on October 25, 2000. This 
legislation would provide grants to state education agencies to help 
establish or strengthen prekindergarten early learning programs that 
provide full day, full calendar year early learning services for 
children age five and under. To encourage states to participate and 
ensure their long-term investment, the bill creates a sliding scale 
over five years for the federal-state match.
  Good quality early education helps children develop, enter school 
ready to succeed and improve their skills. In fact, studies of several 
state prekindergarten initiatives offer convincing evidence of the 
benefits of early education for children at risk of school failure such 
as higher mathematics and reading achievement, increased creativity, 
better school attendance, improved health and greater parental 
involvement. Further, prekindergarten programs have proven cost-
effective over time. The Rand Corporation and a team of researchers at 
the University of Wisconsin estimate that the most effective 
prekindergarten programs create savings to the government of $13,000 to 
$19,000 per child. This savings is realized in higher school 
achievement, less retention in a grade, a reduced need for special 
education, and less crime.
  I hope that Congress would consider this important issue before we 
adjourn for the year. If, however, we are unable to debate the Pre-K 
Act, I will work to make it a top priority when the 107th Congress 
considers the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act.

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