Ross Hunter: We’ll find cash for quality preschool
SEATTLE (AP) – A top budget writer for the Washington state House of Representatives says he isn’t worried about the multi-million dollar cost of a new push for high quality preschool.
Rep. Ross Hunter says the idea has universal support in Olympia and even if they need $10 million to pull it off, those dollars will be found.
The Democrat was joined by the Republican chair of the Senate Education Committee in announcing the early learning project on Tuesday.
Hunter and Sen. Steve Litzow want to get more poor kids into high quality preschool because they say that’s the only kind of early learning that closes the achievement gap between rich and poor children.
They want to offer financial incentives as well as intensive mentoring and training for preschool teachers that care for as many as 50,000 children whose parents are trying to work their way off welfare.
