Thanks
Athol Daily News, Letter to the Editor by Laurie Truehart, July 25, 2008

Editor, Daily News :
I am writing in response to the July 11 Beacon Hill Roll Call about the state Senate's unanimous passage of An Act Relative to Early Education and Care.

As a recipient of a Massachusetts Universal Pre-kindergarten Classroom Quality grant and director of Riverbend Family Child Care & Preschool, I want to thank Senator Stephen Brewer and the entire Senate for their leadership and commitment to our young children and families by voting to pass this landmark legislation, which formally establishes the Universal Pre-Kindergarten program in Massachusetts.

If we are truly going to close the achievement gap in Massachusetts, then providing voluntary, high-quality universal pre-kindergarten to Massachusetts children is the best place to start. Low-income children who participate in high-quality early childhood education are 40 percent less likely to need special education services or be held back a grade, 30 percent more likely to graduate from high school and twice as likely to go to college.

The passage of this bill marks significant progress for Massachusetts' youngest generation and is a good first step toward the long-term goal of providing high-quality early education for all children and families who desire it.

I commend Senator Brewer for recognizing that high-quality early education is critical to our young children, families and communities and I hope he will encourage Governor Patrick to sign this important bill into law.

Laurie Truehart,
Director
Riverbend Family Child Care & Preschool