Virginia Governor Supports "Universal" Pre-Kindergarden

Tyler Whitley and Linday Kastner:

Despite slowing revenues, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said yesterday that he still plans to offer a universal, but not mandatory, pre-kindergarten program in Virginia without raising taxes.

Kaine said the program for 4-year-olds will have to be phased in. He has estimated the program, one of his main proposals when he ran for governor in 2005, will cost about $300 million a year.

He spoke to reporters after putting in a plug for the program at a meeting of the Virginia School Boards Association at the Richmond Marriott Hotel.

His remarks came the same day as the release of a new study that says while publicly funded preschool is a wise investment for Virginia it could cost more than Kaine predicts.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at July 12, 2007 3:28 AM
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