Hillary's Pre-School Plan

Hillary Clinton is starting to talk a bit more about policy. Yesterday, she was down in Florida discussing her pre-school program. Clinton proposes spending $5 billion in dollar for a voluntary dollar matching grants to states for funding pre-school programs. That figure would rise to $10 billion in five years.

States would be required to hire teachers with bachelors degrees and training in early childhood development. Funding would be contingent on the establishment of standards and curriculums devised for early learning; and maintenance of low teacher-child ratios in the program. The money could also be used to expand Head Start programs. Miami Herald:

''I believe that we have to do our best with our children from the very beginning,'' she said. ``If children start school behind, it is likely they will stay behind.''

Clinton said society needs to support the ''invisible'' young child, struggling teacher and single parent. Investing in pre-K classes, she said, would pay off in higher test scores, a stronger workforce and lower crime.

Currently, less than 20 percent of 4-year-olds attend state-funded pre-K programs, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research. With 47 percent enrolled, Florida ranks as the nation's third-largest provider, thanks to a constitutional amendment sealed by voters in 2002.

''Florida was way ahead of everybody, and the people of Florida were really in the vanguard,'' Clinton noted.

See also the updated Hillary on Education page in Choices for Working Californians.