California Democrats to push for free preschool
Source: Reuters
California Democrats to push for free preschool
BY SHARON BERNSTEIN
SACRAMENTO, California Tue Jan 7, 2014 8:32am EST
(Reuters) - A top California lawmaker on Tuesday is expected to unveil a proposal to fund free public preschool for all children in the most populous U.S. state.
The plan by Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, a Democrat, to offer a pre-kindergarten program to four-year-olds in the western state comes as he and other Democratic legislators try to push California Governor Jerry Brown to increase spending on social services, including education, in next year's budget.
Steinberg and senate Democrats who support his plan expect to introduce legislation establishing the pre-kindergarten program this week, said the senator's spokesman, Mark Hedlund.
The proposal is expected to involve expanding an existing program aimed at children who turn five years old too late in the year to attend regular kindergarten. Details such as the cost of the plan would be released on Tuesday, Hedlund said.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/07/us-usa-california-education-idUSBREA060GR20140107