[Dec-kentucky] FW: Your help is needed to PROTECT Preschool and Kindergarten!

[Elizabeth Margaret McLaren]

Please see the important message below regarding public preschool. Forwarded on behalf of KYDEC.

Elizabeth McLaren, EdD
Assistant Professor
e.mclaren at moreheadstate.edu<mailto:e.mclaren at moreheadstate.edu>
Morehed State University
301F Ginger Hall
Morehead KY 40351
606-783-2537 (phone)
606-783-5044 (fax)
Please consider the environment before printing this email.
________________________________
From: Cindy Heine [mailto:admin at prichardcommittee.org]
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 6:47 PM
To: Rous, Beth
Subject: Your help is needed to PROTECT Preschool and Kindergarten!

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Protect preschool and kindergarten quality and funding!

The Senate-passed Budget will hurt Kentucky's education programs for our youngest students by cutting funding for preschool, allowing school districts to hire preschool teachers who DO NOT meet current certification requirements and allowing school districts to do away with aides for kindergarten classes all in the name of saving money.

This is taking a huge step backward for our state!  Kentucky’s preschool program targets very low-income 4-year-olds and 3- and-4-year-old children with developmental delays and disabilities. These children need the best and most qualified early childhood teachers available and our schools need enough funds to serve more children --- not fewer children.

The Pew Center on the States released a report this month ("A Matter of Degrees: Preparing Teachers for the Pre-K Classroom<http://act.prichardcommittee.org/site/R?i=618JRxr55EOfVMNEBNsL_Q..>”) documenting the connection between certified early childhood teachers and school readiness in young children.

Please call 800-372-7181 and leave an important message for members of the House and Senate Leadership and the chairs of the Appropriations & Revenue Committees: Kentucky MUST NOT balance its budget at the expense of our young children!

Ask them to change the budget to:
1. Restore the requirement to meet current preschool certification requirements
2. Restore kindergarten aides

3. Restore preschool funding

Call 800-372-7181 TODAY (message line open 7 am to 11 pm Monday-Thursday and 7 am to 6 pm Friday).

With one phone call you can leave a message for all of these legislators OR call their office at the numbers below.
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS & REVENUE COMMITTEE:
Sen. Bob Leeper, Chair
502-564-8100 ext. 712


HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS & REVENUE COMMITTEE:
Rep. Rick Rand, Chair
502-564-8100 ext. 619


SENATE LEADERSHIP:
Sen. David L Williams, President
502-564-3120 ext. 236 and 323

Sen. Katie Stine, President Pro Tempore
502-564-3120 ext. 236 and 323

Sen. Robert Stivers, Majority Floor Leader
502-564-2450 ext. 242 and 319

Sen. Dan Seum, Majority Caucus Chairman
502-564-2450 ext. 242 and 319

Sen. Carroll Gibson, Majority Whip
502-564-2450 ext. 242 and 319

Sen. Ed Worley, Minority Floor Leader
502-564-2450 ext. 242 and 319

HOUSE LEADERSHIP:
Rep. Greg Stumbo, Speaker of the House
502-564-2363

Rep. Larry Clark, Speaker Pro Tempore
502-564-7520

Rep. Rocky Adkins, Majority Floor Leader
502-564-5565

Rep. Robert Damron, Majority Caucus Chairman
502-564-2217

Rep. John Will Stacy, Majority Whip
502-564-7756










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