Gov. Andy Beshear stops in Bowling Green to discuss Pre-K for All

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Gov. Andy Beshear joined business and education leaders in Bowling Green Tuesday to push Kentucky’s General Assembly to pass an expansion of pre-K.

The program helps prepare children ages 3 and 4 for kindergarten, but it also allows for parents to get back into the workforce sooner.

At the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, both the governor and the superintendent of Warren County Public Schools said pre-K was essential for student and economic development.

Beshear says, “When kids walk into kindergarten right now, half aren’t ready. Half of Kentucky’s kids are failing before they even start. So I think we as a commonwealth have an obligation to do better. And the answer is one that’s been embraced by a ton of other states. It’s pre-K. It’s making sure that every early learner gets that good start.”

Rob Clayton, superintendent of Warren County Public Schools, says, “Our goal is to level the playing field for all of our earliest learners, and getting our students into our schools and preschool, not only better prepares them for the future, but it also is the best use of our available resources when educating our students.”

Beshear said Pre-K for All can be paid for from the revenues the state collects from sports betting, so it would not impact the general fund and other programs. He encouraged every Kentuckian to contact their state senator and representative to encourage them to pass Pre-K for All during this current session of the general assembly.