ATLANTA — The Obama administration is open to considering more than one option to pay for a national expansion of early learning programs and will work with Congress and states to find the necessary money, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Friday.
Duncan was in Atlanta to promote President Barack Obama’s proposal to spend $75 billion over 10 years to partner with states on establishing pre-kindergarten and other programs across the country. During a town hall meeting with Duncan, Gov. Nathan Deal said he supported the commitment to early education programs but disagreed with the president’s plan to raise cigarette taxes to pay for it. That prompted Duncan to say the Obama administration is willing to be flexible.
“We’re absolutely committed to exploring every option. To me, the goal is to get this done,” Duncan said after the town hall. “I’m not interested in symbolic victories.”
Duncan said the plan, which would fund public pre-school for 4-year-olds from families at or below 200 percent of the poverty rate, is essential for a strong economy and said early childhood learning should not be a political issue.
via The Marietta Daily Journal – Education official in Ga to promote federal pre K funding.
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