Universal Pre-Kindergarten Important
The Grafton News, Letter to the Editor by Suzanne Medine, September 3, 2008

As a recipient of a Massachusetts Universal Pre-Kindergarten Classroom Quality Grant and the Program Director at the YMCA Center for Child Development in Grafton, I want to thank Senator Edward Augustus, Representative George Peterson and Governor Deval Patrick for their leadership and commitment to our young children and families by passing and signing landmark legislation into law, formally establishing the Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program in Massachusetts.

In July, the Governor and the state Legislature allocated important new investments in high-quality early education through the Fiscal Year 2009 state budget, which included $12.14 million (a 70% increase in funding over last year) for the Massachusetts UPK program. This funding in conjunction with formally establishing the UPK program in state law marked significant progress and a good first step toward the long-term goal of providing voluntary, high-quality early education to all children and families in Massachusetts.

If we are truly going to close the achievement gap in Massachusetts and help ensure that all children succeed in school and in life, then providing voluntary, high-quality universal pre-kindergarten for our children is the best place to start. As the program director at the YMCA Center for Child Development, I know firsthand how a high-quality early education can help children and families thrive.

By investing in young children and providing training opportunities for our dedicated teachers today, we are taking strong steps toward ensuring a better future for Massachusetts tomorrow.

Suzanne Medine is the Director of the YMCA Center for Child Development, a Universal Pre-Kindergarten grant recipient located in Grafton.