Gov. Beshear announces support from 91 superintendents across Kentucky for Pre-K for All

FRANKFORT, Ky. – During Thursday’s Team Kentucky update, Gov. Andy Beshear was joined by Lieutenant Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, as they announced 91 school superintendents have now endorsed the Pre-K for All initiative, including some in south-central Kentucky.

These include Travis Hamby of Allen County Schools, Robert Tuck of Butler County Schools, Amanda Abell of Caverna Independent Schools, Brian Alexander of Edmonson County Schools, Dan Costellow of Logan County Schools and Rob Clayton of Warren County Public Schools.

Coleman says 87% of Kentuckians support the plan, along with many chambers of commerce, judge executives and mayors across the state.

Beshear added his recent stop in Warren County proved there’s support on both sides of the aisle.

“We had the mayor, we had the county judge, we had surrounding officials of all parties, more Republicans than Democrats, desperately wanting this. The number one education issue that polls among Republicans is Pre-K, and so if people are pushing back on this, if they want to think electorally, they’re going to hear about it in the primary or they’re going to hear about it in a general. Why? Because that’s what the people want,” he says.

Beshear also addressed the current status of the two bills being pushed by the Democrats in Frankfort.

“No, I certainly don’t think it’s dead in the water. I was told that about medical marijuana, I was told that about sports betting, I was told that about other bills, and we got them all over the finish line. In the end, my job’s just to fight for what’s right, and it is right for every four year old to get off to a good start,” he says.

Beshear also mentioned both sides voted unanimously to pass these bills under former governor Matt Bevin. However, they were vetoed.

He hopes this is finally the time that they will pass through.