Legislators hopeful pre-kindergarten bill will pass
Worcester Telegram and Gazette, February 2, 2007

State legislators are hopeful that the universal pre-kindergarten bill former Republican Gov. Mitt Romney vetoed last year will become law now that Democrat Gov. Deval L. Patrick is in the executive office.

State Sen. Robert A. Antonioni, D-Leominster, and state Rep. Patricia A. Haddad, D-Somerset, re-filed the bill last month to create a voluntary universal pre-kindergarten education program for all children 3 and 4 years old in the state.

They told a group of supporters at the Education for All Campaign Advisory Committee celebration Tuesday that they were committed to passing the bill. “I’m confident that with the passion of this bill and the support of the administration it will happen,” Mr. Antonioni said, after the event.

Both legislative branches passed the bill in August, but Mr. Romney blocked it, saying it would be too expensive. He also questioned the benefits of early education.

The governor’s wife, Dianne Patrick, told the group her husband remains behind the plan, which he supported as part of his campaign in the fall. “He is determined to make sure every child in this commonwealth is able to have the same opportunity that he had,” she said.

Mrs. Patrick taught preschool, kindergarten and second grade in New York before she began her law practice. She said early education is vital to create educated adults who will contribute to the state’s work force.

Mr. Antonioni, who is chairman of the Senate education committee, said the goal of the bill is to create affordable and accessible preschool for all children in the state, but he warned of roadblocks to the plan, especially the question of funding.

A study by the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University estimated the plan would cost the state an additional $3,000 per child for a total of $600 million. “It’s going to cost significant monies,” Mr. Antonioni said. He warned funding was going to have to be implemented over a number of years “especially in today’s economic outlook.”