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| An early ed photo op, and push for funding State House News, April 24, 2007 Senate President Therese Murray this morning read to four-year-olds from United South End Settlement preschool program as early education lobbyists, who will meet with Senate Ways and Means staff today, push for House budget amendments that require the state to spend no less than $10 million on universal pre-kindergarten and add $1 million to the $8.5 million proposed for Head Start grant programs. “Too hard to say,” Rep. Patricia Haddad (D-Somerset), co-chair of the Legislature’s Education Committee said when asked how the amendments will fare of the House floor, as representatives were readying to debate the budget for the second day. “Every single amendment that somebody has put out represents something very important. You go one person at a time and you convince them of the importance of what you’re doing,” said Haddad, a sponsor of the universal pre-k amendment, which has 50 co-sponsors. The House budget, as well as Gov. Deval Patrick’s, level-funds the program at $4.6 million, a tiny fraction of the $600 million that early education advocates say is needed within five years. Patrick also provided for a $12.5 million investment in full-day kindergarten. Advocates acknowledge the budget crunch. A national report released last week expressed disappointment in Patrick’s funding levels. “I think it’s a resource allocation question at this point,” said Margaret Blood, director of the early education campaign. Asked which way the upcoming Senate budget may lean, Murray said she hadn’t spoken with Sen. Steven Panagiotakos (D-Lowell) yet. “He’s putting the budget together. That’s his job,” she said after leaving the event in the Senate Reading Room where, after she finished reading to the kids, 11 children sang “Teaching Peace” to her. Before she arrived, the children huddled on the floor, inspecting a ladybug they found. “Science in the State House,” said deputy Early Education For All campaign director Amy O’Leary, before one of the boys tried to stomp the insect. The ladybug survived the stomping. |
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