Beshear visits Bowling Green to highlight ‘Pre-K for All’ initiative

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – On Friday, Gov. Andy Beshear stopped in Bowling Green as part of an effort to rally support for the “Pre-K for All” initiative.

Pre-K for All aims to advance Kentucky’s public education and job growth. In addition, Beshear’s senior advisor, Rodney Adkins, joined him in Warren County.

“We are here, not as Democrats or Republicans, not as part of the right or the left,” Beshear said. “Instead, we are here as parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, educators and business leaders. We are here because we want the best for our Kentucky kids, the best for our Kentucky parents and caregivers, and we want to build and maintain the best workforce in America.”

Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman also promoted “Pre-K for All” in Paducah this afternoon.

“Kentucky will never reach its potential if our children’s zip code determines their place in the world by the first day of kindergarten,” Coleman said. “The time for pre-K is now.”

In addition, some local members of the Bowling Green community shared their views on the initiative.

“High-quality Pre-K boosts long-term economic growth by enhancing school readiness, and reducing achievement gaps, which decreases reliance on public assistance,” said Ron Bunch, president of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce. “It also supports parental workforce participation, driving economic activity.

During his remarks, Beshear mentioned key points that support how children, families and businesses will benefit from the initiative.

Pre-K for All:

• Increases Kindergarten readiness for all Kentucky 4-year-olds. According to KY Stats, more than half of Kentucky’s children – 53.8% – are unprepared when they show up for their first day of kindergarten.
• Eliminates child-care deserts. According to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, 79 of Kentucky’s 120 counties – nearly two-thirds – don’t have access to enough child care to serve every family who needs it, with the majority of those located in Eastern Kentucky.
• Boosts parents take-home pay. A long-term study from Yale found that providing pre-K increased the earnings of parents and caregivers by nearly $9,000 annually, a trend that held for at least six years. This amounts to $54,000 for Kentucky families as their kids grow.
• Saves Kentucky families out-of-pocket child-care costs. By reducing child-care costs, Pre-K for All will ease financial strain for hard-working families and strengthen the foundation of Kentucky’s economy.
• Grows Kentucky’s labor force by 40,000 to 70,000 Kentuckians. According to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, over time, Pre-K for All is projected to grow Kentucky’s workforce by up to 70,000 people.
• Grows Kentucky’s economy. In addition, a study from Yale shows that every dollar invested in pre-K generates $10 that cycles through the state economy.

Beshear stressed that Pre-K for All is a nonpartisan issue, noting that 18 states – including Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia and West Virginia – offer pre-K access for all 4-year-olds.