More children than ever now have access to state-funded preschool thanks to record spending increases by state legislatures in 2005. At least 180,000 more children have access to preschool this year after lawmakers in 26 states boosted pre-K funding by $600 million during 2005 legislative sessions, the largest single-year increase for preschools in five years, according to a report issued Nov. 16 by Pre-K Now, a national advocacy group that supports universal access to preschool. "States are investing in pre-K because they want children to do better later on in school," said Libby Doggett, executive director of Pre-K Now, which is funded mainly by The Pew Charitable Trusts, which also funds Stateline.org. Only three states -- Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma -- have statewide preschool programs, but another 36 states offer preschool for some the state's neediest children. State investment in pre-K education has increased significantly in recent years, from less than $2.5 billion a year in 2002 to more than $3.5 billion in 2005, according to the new report. Several governors, including Jeb Bush (R) in Florida, Rod Blagojevich (D) in Illinois, Bill Richardson (D) in New Mexico, Phil Bredesen (D) in Tennessee and Christine Gregoire (D) in Washington, have made the push for preschool a cornerstone of their education policies.

Plopped on the floor of one of the state's newest pre-kindergarten classes, the two young friends appraised the literary merits of their latest read, a small but engrossing book called Are You a Bee? Melvin and Raishun, both 4, agreed it was much better than Harry the Dirty Dog, which they had perused together earlier. The boys are getting their first brush with formal education through Tennessee's expanded pre-K program, but they aren't going to school, not to a schoolhouse, anyway. They're in a state-funded pre-K class at a private day-care center. With the expansion paid for with $25 million from lottery proceeds, 49 of Tennessee's 447 voluntary pre-kindergarten classes for 4-year-olds are now run by either day-care centers or community groups. Public elementary schools will continue to host the majority of classes as pre-K spreads across Tennessee, but the numbers will grow, too, at "off-campus" sites. The idea is to put the classes in neighborhoods where they're needed most, while holding down school crowding. "We want to increase the number of off-campus classes, and we're getting a plan of action together to do that," said Bobbi Lussier, director of Tennessee's new Office of Early Learning.

MEMPHIS (AP) — Plopped on the floor of one of the state's newest pre-kindergarten classes, the two young friends appraised the literary merits of their latest read, a small but engrossing book called "Are You a Bee?" Melvin and Raishun, both 4, agreed it was much better than "Harry the Dirty Dog," which they had perused together earlier. The boys are getting their first brush with formal education through Tennessee's expanded pre-K program, but they aren't going to school — not to a school house, anyway. They're in a state-funded pre-K class at a private daycare center. With the expansion paid for with $25 million from lottery proceeds, 49 of Tennessee's 447 voluntary pre-kindergarten classes for 4-year-olds are now run by daycare centers or community groups. Public elementary schools will continue to host the majority of classes as pre-K spreads across Tennessee, but the numbers will grow, too, at "off-campus" sites. The idea is to put the classes in neighborhoods where they're needed most, while holding down school crowding.

NASHVILLE (AP) -- Gov. Phil Bredesen wants more funding for pre-kindergarten programs and seeks to make money for it a permanent part of public school funding. The governor met Wednesday with about a dozen educators from across the state to get feedback on the 300 pre-K classes that began this fall and suggestions on how they could be improved. The teachers told him they want more pre-kindergarten classes, pre-K teachers and more support from some school system administrators. Memphis educator Veronica Finnie told Bredesen more than 100 students vied for the 40 pre-K slots this year at Memphis' Holmes Road Elementary. From Nashville, Glenn Elementary pre-K teacher Della Johnson told the governor student she teaches make huge academic and social gains during the year.

Governor says he wants permanent funding for program. NASHVILLE - Gov. Phil Bredesen says that if he had his way, funding for prekindergarten programs would increase and become a permanent part of state funding for public schools. The governor met Wednesday with about a dozen educators from across the state to get feedback on the 300 pre-K classes that began this fall and suggestions on how they could be improved. The teachers told him they want more prekindergarten classes, pre-K teachers and more support from some school system administrators. "There is a big need, so continue to do what you are doing," Memphis educator Veronica Finnie said. Finnie said more than 100 students vied for the 40 pre-K slots this year at Memphis' Holmes Road Elementary School. Educators told Bredesen they wanted more pre-K classrooms opened to needy 4-year-olds, as well as some guarantees that the 300 pre-K classes opened this fall won't go away.

Governor requests feedback on adding 300 classes this fall. Funding for pre-kindergarten would increase and become a permanent part of the state funding that flows to public schools statewide if Gov. Phil Bredesen has his way. He met with a dozen or so educators yesterday to get feedback on the creation of 300 pre-K classes this fall — all of which were to be open by Oct. 1 — and ways he could improve the process in the future. They told him they wanted more — more pre-K classes, more pre-K teachers and more support to get local administrators on board in some school systems. The majority of systems applied for state funding to open one or more pre-K classes this fall, but some didn't, citing the lack of space or money to come up with the required local match. "We waited just because of staff issues and space issues. But, we're rolling now," said Jim Duncan, director of Wilson County Schools, who hopes to open classes next year. "We're going to learn from all these people here." Educators told Bredesen they wanted more pre-K classrooms opened to needy 4-year-olds, as well as some guarantees that the 300 pre-K classes opened this fall won't go away. They also pointed out that more needs to be done to encourage teachers to get specialized training in pre-K. The state also should push colleges to offer more pre-K programs and encourage more collaboration between private and public pre-K providers.

Gov. Phil Bredesen said Wednesday the best way to provide permanent state funding for pre-K education would be through the state’s education funding formula — the Basic Education Program (BEP). “Ultimately, I want to tie it to the BEP,” Bredesen said after a pre-K roundtable discussion with educators from across the state. He said the BEP is the best mechanism for permanent funding because of the strong moral commitment among policy makers to fully fund the BEP. That could mean Metro Nashville will continue to be challenged with raising $44,000 local dollars per state pre-K classroom to match the state’s $56,000 grant. Knox County, however, met the local match with private dollars raised through a new consortium called the Great Schools Partnership, according to the Director of Elementary Schools Fred Nidiffer. Nidiffer said the group formed in January as an initiative of Mayor Mike Ragsdale and includes local businesspeople, higher education representatives, parents and county commissioners. Money from the partnership, he said, allowed Knox County to open 10 new pre-K classrooms.

Roughly 132 Nashville four-year olds started preschool this week as Metro opened the 11 new classrooms funded by Tennessee’s universal pre-K program. “Kids were happy and on target and just happy to be there,” Metro schools Pre-K – 4 Director Florence Kidd said. The program provides a free pre-K education to four-year olds to help more Tennessee youth begin school prepared and take advantage of a young child’s vast potential for learning. The state’s criteria gives priority to at-risk children, who tend to begin school less-prepared than their more advantaged peers. Socioeconomic status impacts a child’s cognitive scores more than any other factor, according to the Economic Policy Institute, which found the “achievement gap” begins before children enter kindergarten. Children have the greatest capacity for absorbing new information and skills before age five as 90 percent of the brain is formed. Metro’s new classrooms allow the district to serve up to 220 four-year olds not already enrolled in preschool in a classroom with a certified teacher and teaching assistant. Some classrooms still have capacity, according to district officials, but families must contact and use a pre-K program in their zone or cluster.

Nashville (WVLT) - A helping hand for lower income families and their pre-kindergarten aged children is underway. The initiative gets underway this week throughout Tennessee. Governor Phil Bredesen made expanding Pre-K a priority of his legislative agenda in the last session of the general assembly. Lawmakers approved his request for $25 million in lottery money to make the expansion possible. The money will create about 300 new Pre-K classrooms for some 6,000 poor or at-risk 4-year-olds.

Expansion reflects national trend toward earlier academic work. THOMPSON'S STATION — Had it not been for the state's pre-kindergarten grant program, 4-year-old Liam O'Neal would not be at Heritage Elementary this year. "We were on the waiting list (for the one pre-k class) and we were really upset when he didn't get in the first class," said Amy O'Neal, Liam's mother. She wanted her son in the program for the social skills it would offer. "And just so he's used to a structured classroom environment." When the county got grant money from the state, Heritage increased its pre-k class from 15 students to 30 by adding staff to give the school two certified teachers and one assistant for its program. Now Liam will have a year of eating lunch in the cafeteria and following the school's behavior standards before he gets to kindergarten, where students are increasingly required to do more and more academic work each year. The county nearly doubled its pre-kindergarten program with the state grant funded through the lottery. Programs are now at Heritage, Fairview, College Grove, Bethesda and Nolensville elementary schools.

KARNS (WATE and AP) -- Thousands of four-year-olds are filing into classrooms across the state this week as Tennessee's expanded pre-kindergarten program begins. Gov. Phil Bredesen expanded pre-K education by convincing the General Assembly to use $25 million in lottery money to fund it. The money is being used to create about 300 new pre-K classrooms for about 6,000 poor or at-risk 4-year-olds. Knox County is using the money for 10 pre-K classrooms and teachers. On the first day of classes there wasn't any furniture to fit the four-year olds in Mrs. Becky Earle's classroom in Karns, because the school's order of new furniture didn't arrive in time. But she says not to worry. "We'll have sand and water tables, we'll have a kitchen area, we'll have dramatic play, we'll have book centers," Earle said. "We're really excited about what's on the way and can't wait for it to get here."

County and city schools are preparing for six new pre-kindergarten classrooms set to open in early October. The classrooms, slated to open Oct. 3, are funded by the Tennessee Lottery. "Pre-K is going to be the kindergarten of tomorrow," said David Kelley, director of Cleveland's Family Resource Agency. Bradley County and Cleveland schools each received $230,000 grants to fund the program. County and city schools have partnered with Family Resource Agency Inc., a partnership unique in Tennessee, to make the new classrooms possible. The Family Resource Agency is already responsible for the Head Start program in Cleveland. This experience puts the Family Resource Agency in a good position to run the pre-kindergarten classrooms. "What we are doing is putting up part of the money by providing teachers and hiring state certified teachers," Kelley said. "There's a lot we all bring to the table that's rich," said Kelley. They have a lot we don't have, and we have a lot they don't have. By doing this together, we're doing better than we would by ourselves."

Tennessee's expanded pre-kindergarten program will be up and running this week. Thousands of four year-olds will file into classrooms across the state. Governor Bredesen made expanding pre-K a priority of his legislative agenda in the last session of the General Assembly. Lawmakers set aside $25 million in lottery money to make the expansion possible. The money will create about 300 new pre-K classrooms for some 6,000 poor or at-risk four year-olds.

Tennessee's expanded pre-kindergarten program will be in place this week, with hundreds of new classrooms devoted to teaching 4-year-olds welcoming students. Gov. Phil Bredesen made expanding pre-K a priority of his legislative agenda in the last session of the General Assembly. In June, Bredesen signed a law allowing $25 million in lottery proceeds to be used to create about 300 new pre-K classrooms for some 6,000 poor or at-risk 4-year-olds. Tennessee has been running a pre-K pilot program since 1998, but the state was spending only about $10 million a year and serving about 3,000 children. Preschool supporters have touted research in other states showing children who go to good preschool programs do better in school, graduate high school at a higher rate and are more likely to go to college.

CHATTANOOGA - Tennessee's expanded pre-kindergarten program will be in place this week, with hundreds of new classrooms devoted to teaching 4-year-olds welcoming students. At a pre-K classroom in Cleveland, Tenn., teacher Doreen Scott watched last week as Caleb Spires played with toy farm animals. Scott asked about a pig the boy had in his hand. "He's going to the barn," Caleb said. Scott's question represented more than curiosity. "We elicit responses from them so we know what they're thinking," she said. "If a child just gives me one word, it's our responsibility to ask them to expand." Gov. Phil Bredesen made expanding pre-K a priority of his legislative agenda in the last session of the General Assembly. In Knox County, pre-K plans this fall call for about 150 youngsters. Preschool supporters have touted research in other states showing children who go to good preschool programs do better in school, graduate high school at a higher rate and are more likely to go to college.

Knox County will have to turn away about 100 children who applied this week for spots in the district's new pre-kindergarten classes. The district received about 250 applications for the voluntary pre-K program, but it only has room for some 150 youngsters, according to Carol Idol, the head of the pre-K program. Idol estimates there are 1,000 4-year-olds in Knox County who could have qualified for the state's new pre-K program, which gives priority to children at risk for struggling in school. "I just wish we could help everybody," Idol said Thursday, the last day of the district's formal registration process. "It just goes to prove that the need is there for quality programs for parents that might not otherwise have the opportunity for a preschool program for their kids." Idol and her team will spend the next few days evaluating the applications and awarding each student points based on certain factors, such whether the child speaks English and whether the child's parents are divorced. The students with the most points will be accepted; the others will be put on a waiting list.

Officials expect applications will exceed 150 spaces. All dressed up in a pretty pink dress, 4-year-old Kassie Godfrey couldn't wait to get inside the school building Monday morning. Her mom was trying to hold her hand as they walked through the parking lot at Karns Elementary School, but Kassie kept letting go and skipping ahead. It was time for Mom to break the bad news. “You're not starting school today, honey," Stephanie Godfrey told her daughter. Kassie continued skipping anyway. There's a chance she'll be able to start school later this month. Her mom is hoping to enroll her in the state's new voluntary pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds, but space is limited. Knox County began holding registration for pre-K classes on Monday, and the process will continue through Thursday. By Monday evening, the school system already had received 117 applications, according to Carol Idol, who oversees the district's new program.

Officials received 121 applications for 40 openings. School officials received more than enough applications to fill all 40 slots in its preschool classes at Liberty and Norman Smith elementary schools. The schools collected a total of 121 applications from local parents hoping to enroll their 4-year-olds in Gov. Phil Bredesen's voluntary prekindergarten program. Vicki Wallace, schools director of elementary education, said classes could start as early as Sept. 19. "The parents are being notified by letter and individual phone calls," she said. "We have given the names and addresses of the children to transportation, and we are waiting for them to figure out the routes." Children who were not selected received a letter saying they have been placed on a waiting list, Wallace said. The total cost of the local project is $219,000. The district is receiving $134,000 from the state and is supplying $85,000 of in-kind money to offset the remaining costs. Since the governor's primary goal for the program is to target at-risk children, Wallace said many factors were considered when reviewing applications. "Typically, children of poverty will be more at-risk than those who are not of poverty. At-risk children also can be non-English speaking children. Those are two measuring sticks," Wallace said. "Kids who qualify for free or reduced (cost) lunch are considered as well."

Parents, do you have questions about Tennessee's newly expanded public pre-kindergarten program? Well, we have answers, based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education. Q: Do I have to enroll my child in the pre-K program? A: No. The program is voluntary. Q: If I want to enroll my child, is there an age requirement? A: Children must be 4 on or before Sept. 30, 2005. Q: Is my child guaranteed enrollment? A: No. Parents must contact their local school districts to apply for the program, and space is limited. Q: How will districts decide which 4-year-olds to accept? A: The state requires districts to enroll "at risk" children first. Priority will be given to families who qualify for the free or reduced school lunch program (based on federal poverty guidelines). Districts then can consider other at-risk factors, such as whether the child speaks English or is delayed developmentally. Q: How many children will be in a class? A: The maximum allowed is 20. Q: How will the class be staffed? A: There must be one adult for every 10 children in the class.

Classrooms coming together and word spreads as new program for 4-year-olds approaches first day. Kimberly Mayes, one of Knox County's new prekindergarten teachers, gave an impromptu tour of her classroom last week. So, this is my room. Isn't it gorgeous?" Mayes said jokingly as she scanned the boxes of books, art supplies and other materials strewn about the floor. It's not that Mayes is disorganized. She and her colleagues just don't have furniture for their rooms yet. The students don't arrive for four more weeks, so for now, Mayes has built a makeshift desk, placing her computer monitor on a bookshelf and her keyboard on a cardboard box. "I think we all are ready for our kids," Mayes said. "But the fact that we still don't have furniture - mentally, we're ready. Physically, we're not." But the rooms will be ready when classes begin Sept. 26, assured Carol Idol, who is in charge of Knox County's new pre-K program. "If our new furniture doesn't arrive, we've got some in surplus we can use," Idol said. Registration for Knox County's pre-K program kicks off today. Other East Tennessee school systems also are scrambling to enroll students in the state's newly expanded, voluntary pre-K program for 4-year-olds, which is designed to prepare youngsters for school.

A total of 120 four-year-olds will have the opportunity to benefit from the six pre-k grants offered to Cumberland County. The schools that will offer pre-k are Pleasant Hill, South Cumberland, Martin, Homestead and Pine View elementaries. South Cumberland Elementary will offer two pre-k classes. The maximum enrollment per class is 20 students. "I am pleased that we obtained six out of the nine pre-k classrooms that we applied for. I would like to maximize this opportunity for the four-year-olds in Cumberland County and start this program as soon as possible. I support the governor and the commissioner of education in their endeavor to give this opportunity to four-year-olds through excess lottery funds. Educational research shows that an excellent pre-k program will benefit students through each grade and increase high school graduation rates," said Patricia Ragsdale, director of schools. For a child to be eligible for the program in Cumberland County this year, they must reach the age of four by Oct. 1, 2005. Priority for placement into the pre-k program will be given to students who fall into the at-risk category, which is based upon family income. Students who live in the zones of the schools that offer the pre-k program will be given first priority. If space is available, other four-year-olds would be eligible for the program.

Two new teachers were expected to start work Tuesday at the Oak Ridge Preschool after the Oak Ridge Board of Education voted Monday night to approve the hiring of two new teachers and two assistants. The hirings are in response to last week's announcement that Oak Ridge received state funding for two pre-kindergarten classrooms under Gov. Phil Bredesen's Volunteer Pre-K Initiative. The school system is receiving approximately $152,000 in state funding to pay the new employees' salaries and benefits, said Karen Splinter, Oak Ridge schools' director of business and support services. The two new teachers will mean Oak Ridge Preschool will now have 13 classes, and be able to serve an additional 40 students, Principal Marian Phillips said. "We lost two classes last spring, so it's really getting us back up to 207 children," Phillips told the School Board. Even with the new classrooms, Phillips said the Preschool still has a waiting list for students. The new classrooms should be fully operational by Aug. 22, she said.

Morgan County has just been awarded a grant to fund four pre-kindergarten classrooms. Director of Schools Mike Davis said this will bring the total of pre-kindergarten classrooms in the county to five. Sunbright participated in the pilot pre-k program last year and will continue this year. "This will give us county-wide coverage," Davis said during an interview on Monday. Pre-k in Tennessee will be accessible to all 4-year-olds, with an emphasis on at-risk students and high priority communities. Davis said the program here hopes to pick up 4-year-olds not currently being served by head start. Davis said there are a lot of questions about the program that remain unclear including the number of children that can be enrolled in each classroom. Both Davis and Kathy Carroll, the grant writer for Morgan County Schools, are scheduled to attend meetings providing more information.

Both the Monroe County and Sweetwater City school systems have been awarded state funding for new pre-kindergarten classrooms. According to an announcement Gov. Phil Bredesen made Thursday, each local school system will get funding for one new pre-K classroom, which can serve up to 20 at-risk 4-year-olds. It’s all part of the governor’s initial $25 million startup funding that will put more than 300 voluntary pre-K classrooms in 106 school systems across the state this school year with the money coming from excess lottery funds. “One of the best parts about being governor is making a real difference in the lives of Tennessee children and families and today we are making a real difference,” Bredesen said. The state will pay about 85 percent of the estimated $101,000 it will cost to run each new pre-K classroom, local school administrators said. School systems are required to pay the other 15 percent, but will be able to count many of the expenses they are already paying for as the local match, meaning little if any new local money will have to be used for the new pre-K programs. Both the city and county school systems already had pre-K programs but the new money will allow them to reach more children.

In a series of press conferences on Thursday, Aug. 4, Governor Phil Bredesen announced nearly $25 million in awards for more than 300 voluntary pre-kindergarten (pre-K) classrooms in Tennessee. The programs will serve at-risk 4 year-olds across the state. Funding was provided in the governor's 2005-2006 budget, and was approved by the Tennessee General Assembly to use excess lottery funds as a first step to making pre-K available to every 4 year-old in the state. "One of the best parts about being governor is making a real difference in the lives of Tennessee children and families, and today we are really making a difference," Governor Bredesen said. "Today, we are helping thousands of Tennessee children prepare for success in school and in life. This is good for our children, it is good for our schools, and it is good for our state." The Overton County School System was notified on Friday, Aug. 5 that the county will receive three pre-K grants. Two of the classrooms will be located at the Early Childhood building (the old Board of Education Central Office), and one will be at Hilham Elementary School.

Dayton City School and Rhea County Schools will have state-funded classrooms for at-risk 4-year-old children this fall. The classes are the result of landmark $25 million legislation passed by the Tennessee General Assembly in May and include two classes for Rhea County schools and one class for Dayton City School. Gov. Phil Bredesen made the announcement Friday in Chhattanooga. The pre-k classes will begin this fall but will be available to only 20 4-year-olds at city schools and 40 in county schools. City School Superintendent Richard Fisher said the board applied for two classrooms because it anticipated that as many as 40 children will seek enrollment in the special classes via their parents. He added, however, that he was not disappointed with having only one class because “we had none to start with,” and this will provide an opportunity to “get a toe in the water to see how it’s going to work.”

Dayton City School and Rhea County Schools will have state-funded classrooms for at-risk 4-year-old children this fall. The classes are the result of landmark $25 million legislation passed by the Tennessee General Assembly in May and include two classes for Rhea County schools and one class for Dayton City School. Gov. Phil Bredesen made the announcement Friday in Chhattanooga. The pre-k classes will begin this fall but will be available to only 20 4-year-olds at city schools and 40 in county schools. City School Superintendent Richard Fisher said the board applied for two classrooms because it anticipated that as many as 40 children will seek enrollment in the special classes via their parents. He added, however, that he was not disappointed with having only one class because “we had none to start with,” and this will provide an opportunity to “get a toe in the water to see how it’s going to work.”

Cheatham County education officials are enthused at the news that around $174,000 in lottery funds has been earmarked to help establish two pre-kindergarten classes this year for children identified as “at risk” of struggling in school. Local school officials, along with educators across Tennessee, met with Gov. Phil Bredesen and state education representatives in Murfreesboro last week to learn that 300 sites would receive a chunk of $25 million in lottery funds to help prepare four year olds for kindergarten. Two of the three pre-K sites requested for Cheatham County were approved - Ashland City Elementary and East Cheatham Elementary. The district had also requested a class at Pegram Elementary. “It's to provide the education needed to at-risk four-year-olds to give them the opportunity to develop readiness skills they’ll need to be successful in kindergarten and hopefully carry over into future grades,” said Kathy Adams, Title 1 supervisor, who serves on the local 11-member pre-K advisory council.

When Margo Pickering was in Murfreesboro Thursday to hear Gov. Phil Bredesen announce that Dickson County was getting two pre-K grants she said she felt like she’d won the Lottery. The pre-K program is a voluntary pilot program created in 1998 and is nationally recognized for its high quality standards, including class size, student-to-teacher ratio, teacher certification and state board-approved curriculum. About 6,000 children statewide will be served through the pre-K program and the grants announced Thursday total $25 million. According to state guidelines, children work in small groups reading books, building structures and learning through play inside and outside the classroom. Children who attend pre-K must be four years old by Sept. 30 of this year. Pickering, who will be the pre-K teacher at Vanleer Elementary School, could hardly contain her excitement Thursday evening at a meeting at the school for parents who registered their youngsters for the new program at Vanleer and the Head Start program near Dickson Elementary School in Dickson. “I was in Murfreesboro today when the governor announced the pre-K winners in the state… 300 new programs,” Pickering said as she greeted parents and children at the door. “Dickson County is getting two of these programs. That’s the equivalent of winning the Lottery. We are so lucky.”

Patricia Ragsdale, director of schools, was pleased to announce that six state pre-k grants were awarded to the Cumberland County School System at the Aug. 4 Cumberland County Board of Education meeting. However, overcrowding of schools put a damper on the news of receiving the six state pre-k grants. Cumberland County had applied for nine pre-k grants and received six of the grants requested. The difference in the budget revenue dropped by $245,640 because of this adjustment. However, an expense line was also dropped by $245,640 as well so this year's budget totals would not be affected. Schools that applied for the grants were Pleasant Hill, South Cumberland, Martin, Homestead, North Cumberland, Pine View and Stone Elementaries. South Cumberland and Martin Elementaries had applied for two grants. "I realize there's an awful lot logistically to go through with these. As I look at this list (of all schools by state receiving pre-k grants) I'm really really proud of this for Cumberland County (receiving six pre-k grants)... There is a lot to work through and details to get hammered out. There are a lot of people who worked very hard. This is going to be a huge step for improving education in Cumberland County," said Dan Schlafer, 9th District representative.

Both the Monroe County and Sweetwater City school systems have been awarded state funding for new pre-kindergarten classrooms. According to an announcement Gov. Phil Bredesen made Thursday, each local school system will get funding for one new pre-K classroom, which can serve up to 20 at-risk 4-year-olds. It’s all part of the governor’s initial $25 million startup funding that will put more than 300 voluntary pre-K classrooms in 106 school systems across the state this school year with the money coming from excess lottery funds. “One of the best parts about being governor is making a real difference in the lives of Tennessee children and families and today we are making a real difference,” Bredesen said. The state will pay about 85 percent of the estimated $101,000 it will cost to run each new pre-K classroom, local school administrators said. School systems are required to pay the other 15 percent, but will be able to count many of the expenses they are already paying for as the local match, meaning little if any new local money will have to be used for the new pre-K programs. Both the city and county school systems already had pre-K programs but the new money will allow them to reach more children.

This week, we salute a Tennessee public pre-kindergarten program and help for farmers making the transition from tobacco to other crops. Early learning. Gov. Phil Bredesen came to town this week to tout his program to establish new voluntary pre-kindergarten programs at public schools around the state. Among the schools benefitting will be Bristol’s Anderson Elementary, which already has one pre-k class, but will now be able to help 20 more students. The program could go a long way to bridge the educational gap between children from more affluent families – who can afford to send their children to private preschools – and those in lower-income households. Seeing all children live up to their potential is a worthwhile goal. * New cash crops. Tennessee plans to invest $5 million to help farmers, who once relied on tobacco farming to stay afloat, find new crops and new markets, according to Agriculture Secretary Ken Givens. The state is looking at promoting agritourism and organically crown fruits and vegetables, improving the state’s tracking of potentially diseased livestock and a better marketing plan for the state’s cattle. Givens was in Bristol to celebrate National Farmers Market Week at the city’s successful downtown farmers market. Local folks recently voted to extend the market’s season until November, which no doubt will be welcome news to many in the region.

Nearly a dozen school systems in the Southeast Tennessee region soon will receive lottery funds to open pre-kindergarten classrooms this school year. Gov. Phil Bredesen announced funding Thursday for more than 300 voluntary preschool classrooms across the state, including more than 40 in Southeast Tennessee. "Prekindergarten education is a critical time in a child’s development," Gov. Bredesen said. "Programs like these lay the foundation for all future learning and academic success." Schools in Bledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk and Rhea counties will receive excess lottery money to pay for the pre-k classes, primarily aimed at at-risk students. Gov. Bredesen said each school system that requested money for the classes got enough for at least one classroom, though several school districts didn’t get as much money as they initially requested. A key initiative of the Democratic governor, the program sends about $25 million to local school districts. That will add about 6,000 4-year-olds to a pilot program begun in 1998. "We’re really excited," said Bobbie Colquette, director of curriculum in Marion County Schools. Jasper and South Pittsburg elementary schools each will get two pre-k classrooms, she said, and spots in the 20-seat classrooms are expected to fill fast.

Every Tennessee school district that applied for a grant from the state got money for at least one pre-K classroom. Each classroom can serve no more than 20 students. Here's the number of classrooms some East Tennessee school districts will be able to provide with the grants, according to the state:

School officials plan to offer at least eight classes for at-risk youngsters. Gov. Phil Bredesen announced Thursday that Knox County will receive funding for at least eight new pre-kindergarten classes this fall. The county was one of 106 school districts to receive a slice of a $25 million pie dedicated for pre-K education this year. The money, which will come from lottery proceeds, will make free pre-K classes available to around 6,000 more 4-year-olds statewide. The state's current program serves about 3,000 children. With the new funds doled out, school district officials now must scramble to hire teachers and finalize the application process for parents who want to sign up their youngsters. Classes must begin by Oct. 1. The bad news, according to school officials: There won't be enough classes to serve all the 4-year-olds in the state, although Bredesen has made that his long-term goal. For now, the state's pre-K legislation requires school districts to give preference to "at-risk" children. That includes youngsters from low-income families, new immigrants and others at risk for falling behind their peers in school.

Metro Schools’ pre-K wishes came true Thursday when Gov. Phil Bredesen announced the award of funding for 11 new classrooms under the state’s voluntary “pre-K for all” initiative. Twenty-five million in state pre-K funding was dispersed among 106 school districts — including Cheatham County, Dickson County, Robertson County, Murfreesboro City, Franklin Special, Williamson County and Lebanon Special in Middle Tennessee. To view a complete list of districts receiving awards, visit www.nashvillecitypaper.com. MNPS received funding for all the classrooms it applied for, a pleasant surprise for some who were not sure Metro’s plan would meet the parameters of the program. “I’m delighted to hear we will get the 11 [classrooms] that we applied for,” school board member Lisa Hunt said. “Pre-K is one of the most important things we can do for children of poverty.”

Three local schools to benefit from voluntary Pre-K programs. In light of budget woes and layoffs, good news is definitely something the educators of Jackson-Madison County Schools need to hear. It almost seems like perfect timing that Gov. Phil Bredesen made Alexander Elementary School in Jackson one of his stops on Thursday. He announced that the school system would receive its request - three voluntary Pre-K programs for the upcoming school year, which begins on Monday. ''In West Tennessee, 83 percent of programs were funded,'' Bredesen said. ''Education is key to the future success of our state. Teachers from all over have said that they can tell immediately which kids have been in Pre-K and which ones haven't.'' The Pre-K programs are for four-years-olds and particularly for children who are considered ''at risk'' - a term Bredesen admits disliking

Tennessee just tripled the number of Memphis area 4-year-olds enrolled in its pre-K program. About 600 more preschoolers will start class this fall, adding to the 300-plus slots available last year in the pre-K pilot now being financed with excess lottery money. Memphis City Schools will get 26 new classrooms. Shelby County gets four. Gov. Phil Bredesen visited Lucy Elementary School near Millington Thursday as part of his five-stop state fly-around to announce which school districts would get the classes. Each classroom may have up to 20 children, and local school districts had to promise to have the kids in place and learning their ABCs and 123s by Oct. 1. Bredesen said the pre-K program will be his legacy. "I want every parent who wants it to have access to preschool for their children," Bredesen said. "It's a realistic goal." Bredesen made the pre-K bill the centerpiece of his agenda this year, and he signed the bill into law earlier this summer. At his request, the state legislature allotted $25 million in lottery proceeds to expand the state's pilot program.

Governor Phil Bredesen wants to provide the opportunity for every child in the state of Tennessee to attend Pre-Kindergarten classes. He came to town, money in hand today to make that possible for the area's at risk-children. Pre-K students from Hardy elementary got a real treat their second day of school. Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen read them a book. He also brought a surprise....25-million dollars for 300- new pre-k classrooms throughout the state. Phil Bredesen - Governor "I think education is the solution to the problems in society, young people who got the skills it takes to go out and get a good job they don't get in trouble they don't have go on various social programs." The new pre-k classrooms will serve more than 3-thousand at risk four year olds in Tennessee.

Gov. Phil Bredesen talks with 4-year-old Ali Fields on Thursday at Valley Pike Elementary School in Bristol, Tenn. Bredesen conducted a statewide tour to announce the recipients of pre-kindergarten grants totaling $25 million. The grants will be used for about 300 new pre-K classrooms. BRISTOL, Tenn. - Gov. Phil Bredesen admitted that, like many of the children by his side, he'd like to be going back to bed. Instead, he had a long day ahead of him - one he was looking forward to because it marked another step in the quest to make pre-kindergarten (pre-K) programs available to every 4-year-old in the state. Bredesen and Tennessee Education Commissioner Lana Seivers kicked off their daylong statewide tour bright and early Thursday morning at Valley Pike Elementary School, where they announced grant recipients for 112 new pre-K classrooms in East Tennessee including three in Sullivan County and two each in Hancock and Hawkins counties. "I kind of like the idea of going back to bed after this," Bredesen said, referring to what the youngsters seated next to him had told Seivers they planned to do. The event started at 7:45 a.m. "We're of the same mind on that," the governor said, drawing laughter and nods from dozens of elected officials and educators gathered for the announcement. School officials traveled from as far away as Sevier County to Valley Pike, home to one of the first pre-K pilot programs in the state, to find out which districts would receive funding to start new pre-K classrooms this fall.

Tennessee set aside $832,000 for 13 pre-kindergarten programs here, but Hamilton County will have to spend an additional $450,000 to match the state’s grant. "We were able to fund 300 classes statewide for just over $24 million," Gov. Phil Bredesen said during an announcement at Tommie F. Brown Academy of Classical Learning here. The governor said 106 school districts applied for lottery funding to start pre-kindergarten programs, which will serve at-risk children and require a match in money or in-kind services from the districts. "We were not able to accommodate every classroom request, but all 106 systems will receive funding for at least one new pre-k program," he said. Gov. Bredesen said the 13 programs funded in Hamilton County put it among the districts in East Tennessee that had the most requests funded. Most counties surrounding Hamilton received funding for one to four classes, according to the governor’s office. Knox County received money for eight classes.

Governor Bredesen traveled the state Thursday, announcing the recipients of $25 million in grants for a voluntary preschool program. Governor Bredesen, accompanied by state Education Commissioner Lana Seivers, made stops in Bristol, Chattanooga, Murfreesboro, Jackson and Millington to announce the grants, which will be used to provide Pre-K classrooms in school districts statewide. "We were not able to accommodate every request for a classroom, but we were able to accommodate every district, with some classrooms," Governor Bredesen said. The initiative was the centerpiece of the governor's budget. In June, he signed a law allowing lottery funds to be used to create 300 classrooms for about 6,000 poor or at-risk four year-olds. The governor visited Bellwood Discovery school in Murfreesboro, where he was greeted by cheers from a packed room of educators from across Middle Tennessee.

Gov. Phil Bredesen and Tennessee Education Commissioner Lana Seivers will conduct a statewide tour on Thursday to announce the recipients of Pre-K grant money for the fall. There will be a stopover at Brown Academy on 8th Street in Chattanooga at 11 a.m. The grants, which total $25 million, will create approximately 300 new Pre-K classrooms across Tennessee and will serve approximately 6,000 children. At each event site, Bredesen will be announcing the number of Pre-K classrooms for that region. Here is the schedule: Bristol: Event Time: 8 a.m. EDT. Location: Valley Pike Elementary, 2125 Carolina Avenue. Chattanooga: Event Time: 11 a.m. EDT. Location: Brown Academy for Classical Studies, 718 East 8th Street. Murfreesboro: Event Time: 12:30 p.m. CDT. Location: Bellwood Elementary, 435 Sanbryn Drive. Jackson: Event Time: 3:15 p.m. CDT. Location: Alexander Elementary, 900 North Highland Avenue. Millington: Event Time: 6 p.m. CDT. Location: Lucy Elementary, 6269 Amherst Road.

All those dollars rolling into the state lottery aren't just paying for Tennessee students to go to college for four years. Some of the money is about to help educate kids who've only been alive four years. "Parents are a child's first educator but many children need an extra boost to be ready to come into school," says Karen Hembree, Knox County's Preschool Program Supervisor. Sam E. Hill School is one of three lottery-funded pre-K programs in Knox County. Four-year olds considered "at risk" are already doing math problems on a computer. The Governor's new program is about making this opportunity available to a lot more kids. "There are little over 1,000 four year olds in Knox County that are not receiving any other kind of pre-K education, so we're hoping to tap into that group of children," says Hembree. The Karnes Annex is one of the spots already designated for a pre-school class. Knox County hopes to have ten classes this fall, exposing 150 more four-year olds to the alphabet, numbers and social skills. Kelley Schmied is one of Knox County's newest preschool teachers. She taught kindergarten last year.

NASHVILLE — Gov. Phil Bredesen will be in Chattanooga today to announce the regional school districts that will be participating in the state’s new pre-kindergarten grant program. The program focuses primarily on at-risk children and provides $25 million to participating school districts statewide. The districts are required to provide matching funds. The grant program will create about 300 classrooms across the state and serve about 6,000 children. State Education Commissioner Lana Seivers is expected to join the governor at today’s announcement.

NASHVILLE -- Gov. Phil Bredesen is scheduled to visit Lucy Elementary School near Millington today to announce how much money local school districts will receive for new pre-kindergarten classes. The 6 p.m. visit to the Shelby County school is the last of five stops on a statewide tour the governor and state Education Commissioner Lana Seivers are making to announce the distribution of the pre-K money. At Bredesen's request, the state legislature this year appropriated $25 million in Tennessee Lottery proceeds to expand the state's limited pre-kindergarten program. The money will fund about 300 new pre-K classes across the state, serving about 6,000 children. It was the governor's top education priority of the year. Lucy Elementary is at 6269 Amherst Road, south of Millington. Other stops on the governor's tour include Bristol, Chattanooga, Murfreesboro and Jackson.

About 300 new pre-K classrooms will open this fall, and details about where they'll be located will be released today. Gov. Phil Bredesen is making five stops across the state, including one at Murfreesboro's Bellwood Elementary, to announce which school systems in that region will receive state funding for pre-K. Bredesen made pre-K a priority in his 2005-06 budget by earmarking $25 million in new funding from lottery proceeds. About 100 of the 136 school systems have applied for funding. The new pre-K classes, which can each enroll 20 students, will serve about 6,000 4-year-old students.

Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) is expected to be one of the school districts chosen to receive a portion of the $25 million state pre-K dollars to open new classrooms when Gov. Phil Bredesen announces the grant recipients today. The money will be used to offer a quality pre-K program to at-risk 4-year-olds not already being served. Bredesen will visit Bristol, Chattanooga, Murfreesboro, Jackson and Millington today, at each location naming the regional recipients of the state pre-K funding. District officials from MNPS and representatives from Mayor Bill Purcell’s office received an invitation to the Murfreesboro education announcement. While Tennessee has operated pilot state pre-K classrooms since 1998, this year’s appropriation is Bredesen’s first step toward instituting a universal pre-K program for 4-year olds. The new dollars are estimated to increase the number of state pre-K classrooms from 148 to more than 300.

Tennessee's new pre-K program starts out modestly, but the state isn't scrimping on making the effort a success. Tennesseans should be heartened by the Department of Education Office of Early Learning, the operation created to begin building the state's pre-K classes across the state. The state has had a pilot program for the last eight years, but the advent of the lottery, which specifically permitted use of funds to create pre-school programs in Tennessee, has turned the pilot into progress. Gov. Phil Bredesen and the legislature appropriated $25 million in lottery funding this year to begin the program. The governor has said he'll seek to find a more permanent source of funding to build the effort in future years. The Office of Early Learning bolsters the ability to find permanent funding. In establishing the office, officials are ensuring that the school systems starting programs will be well-informed and well-monitored. The convenience of putting all the resources into one centralized office means that districts have an easy place to ask questions and get the answers they need to create successful classrooms. In turn, the state's experts can keep programs on track. Any problems can be quickly spotted and addressed. Plus, the state has a close monitoring of all programs so ideas are shared and directions adjusted if need be.

Schools unsure of funds, but staff in place to keep tabs on training, spending. Tennessee school systems don't yet know if they'll get new state dollars to add pre-K classes, but a new office has been set up to make sure they spend the money correctly. The Office of Early Learning in the state Department of Education was created to guide schools through the process of opening new classrooms, training staff and drumming up community support. It will also monitor the classrooms to make sure the money is spent correctly and make sure they are operating as intended over time. "Having all of that under one roof will really help us," said Terry Hampton, who oversees existing pre-K programs in Wayne County. "I really appreciate that they have the foresight to put this into place. We will be talking to them for all kinds of questions as challenges come up." Education Commissioner Lana Seivers said it's important to have all the early childhood education expertise, guidelines and resources in one place so school systems know the expectations and where to turn when they have questions. "We already have some staff, but this is a stand-alone office now," Seivers said of the office, which will have headquarters in Nashville but will provide help to systems statewide. "It's going to take a more concentrated office to make sure it's focused."

(Cleveland Bradley News Weekly (TN))
A unanimous vote of support will allow Bradley County Schools to partner with the Family Resource Agency to administer a newly funded pre-K pilot program made possible by an initiative launched by Governor Phil Bredesen.

Last week's announcement of a partnership between the Bradley County School System and the Family Resource Agency to sponsor four pre-K classrooms at county schools for the coming year and hopefully expand the program in the future to all schools has created a "tremendous" amount of interest. "We've had a tremendous number of calls (15 to 20)," said Terri Murray, director of federal projects for the county school system and one of several staff members working on plans for the pre-K program. "I understand the schools scheduled for these four classes have also received calls, and I'm sure the Family Resource Agency has received its share," continued Murray. Murray said there have also been a number of calls from teachers and teaching assistants about the program. The classes will hopefully be funded by the state as a part of the program initiated recently by Gov. Phil Bredesen. Staff members of the Family Resource Agency and school system will be writing a grant application for approximately $400,000 to pay for this first year. The grant application must be submitted by July 15, and notification of approval or rejection is anticipated by Aug. 1.

Gov. Phil Bredesen finally had something positive to celebrate when he signed a law allowing $25 million of lottery funds to go to his pre-kindergarten education program. It was not an easy victory, but a worthwhile one. We did not support the governor's original proposal that went before the General Assembly. There was concern that money would automatically flow away from college scholarships each year and into pre-K. That was never the intent of the lottery legislation. Then there was the fear the future amount might balloon. Instead, we preferred another form of funding for pre-K built into the state budget and funded by recurring revenue. Support for pre-K was not the issue, only determining how it would be funded. In the end, Bredesen struck a compromise with the General Assembly and agreed to take $25 million this year and petition the legislature again in the future. It was a reasonable solution. Now, the state's experimental pre-K program can be expanded to cover some 6,000 poor or at-risk children in about 300 classrooms. It is a major step forward. But with an estimated 37,000 children who could benefit from pre-K, there still is a long way to go.

Governor Bredesen signed the measure into law. The first installment will pay for about 300 classrooms for about 6,000 low-income or at risk 4 year olds. The new funding will triple the number of children already served by a state pilot program, but it would still represents only a fraction of the estimated 37,000 disadvantaged pre kindergarteners in the state. The governor says he plans to return to the General Assembly each year with a request to keep funding the program.

Though some school systems across the state are choosing not to participate in Governor Phil Bredesen’s pre-k initiative, Dickson County officials are moving forward with their plans to join in. Bredesen requested in his 2005-06 budget that $25 million in excess lottery funds go towards funding pre-k programs across the state. Local school systems must apply for grants in order to participate in the program, but many systems have decided that they can’t take part in the program at this time. Money and space is limiting those systems in their ability to join the program, but here a plan is already in motion to get around any funding roadblocks that would keep this county from participating. “It costs about $101,000 to set up a classroom. If we get the grant, the state would send about $80,000 and we would match with 25 percent in kind,” said Ernestine Adams, the county’s director of elementary education. Adams explained that “in kind” means the county could match the grant without having to fork out $25,000 in cash. The plan is to take from a program already in place at Oakmont Elementary that caters to students already benefiting from pre-k education. “We have a program there for three-, four- and five-year-olds and we pay the teachers through the general fund. We can use those salaries as our match,” Adams said.

JOHNSON CITY - Although pre-kindergarten education will not become mandatory, Gov. Phil Bredesen said Thursday, he plans to extend his initiative beyond this year's start to provide access for any family that wants it. "We're going to expand it again next year, and frankly as long as I'm governor, I want to continue extending the program," Bredesen said during a stop in Johnson City to promote the initiative. While the law already bore his signature, Bredesen ceremoniously signed the legislation Thursday at Children First Development Center, a Johnson City Housing Authority child care center that has housed one of the state's pilot pre-K programs for seven years, in one of three such appearances across the state. Funded by lottery proceeds, the $25 million program will build upon the pilot program to provide about 300 new pre-K classes serving some 6,000 students across the state starting next fall. In adopting the governor's plan, however, the state legislature amended the law to designate the funds for one year only, leaving its continuity in some doubt. "I'm concerned that they put the money in as one-year money rather than a continuing part of the budget, but I think that was more people just having to put some mark on the legislation," Bredesen said in a news conference after Thursday's ceremony. Some local school officials have wondered whether the initiative will be the first step toward mandatory preschool. The governor dismissed the notion.

Marks 'landmark day' at child development center in S. Knoxville. For the children, it was probably the biggest performance of their lives. They had to sing to the governor of Tennessee about green-speckled frogs, sitting on logs. For Gov. Phil Bredesen, it was, in his words, "a landmark day" as well. He was at My Village child development center in South Knoxville to celebrate the new state bill that will allow more 4-year-olds to attend prekindergarten for free. Bredesen announced in November that he wanted to increase the number of pre-K classes. Last month the General Assembly approved the idea, allotting $25 million in lottery proceeds for the expansion this fall. This, however, is only the beginning, the governor hopes. He would like the program to reach many more youngsters, not just those deemed at-risk. "I want this program to be available to every child in the state of Tennessee," Bredesen told reporters after doing a ceremonial signing of the bill. The estimated price tag: $150 million, if 50 percent to 60 percent of all children enroll, which is the norm, according to the governor's office.

Thousands of Tennessee's four year olds will get an early start on graduation. Thursday, Governor Phil Bredesen came to Knoxville to sign a new law that funds Pre-Kindergarten programs. Lottery money will help pay for 300 classrooms taught by certified early childhood education teachers. Educators who gathered for the event at the Montgomery Village Center in South Knoxville say the importance of an early start is being recognized more, and programs are growing nationally. "It looks like they're just playing," teacher Scarlett Householder says, watching her 3 to 5-year old students on the playground. "It should look like they're having fun. Mostly we're just teaching them to enjoy learning." She says they learn basic math skills in the sandbox. The goal is simply to get them ready for their first day of kindergarten, when it really counts.

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Gov. Bredesen signed the Voluntary Pre-K for Tennessee Act of 2005 in Knoxville Thursday afternoon. The ceremony was held at the Montgomery Village Child Development Center in south Knoxville. The center has been part of a pre-K pilot program for five years. "I think it's a great leveling force," Bredesen says. "Children who come from different backgrounds can start out school on a lot fairer or even basis. I also like the fact in that I think you can see the results immediately." Bredesen says he wants every four-year-old in the state to have the opportunity to attend pre-kindergarten programs. At risk students, who are on free and reduced lunch programs, along with high priority communities will be emphasized. Eventually, Bredesen hopes to open the program to anyone. The goal is to help the kids develop social and pre-academic skills. Currently, it looks like there will be enough money to supply 300 pre-K classrooms throughout the state. With 20 kids per class, 6,000 will be able to reap the benefits of the program in the first year.

Gov. Phil Bredesen yesterday traveled to Johnson City, Knoxville and Memphis to ceremonially sign a law allowing $25 million in lottery funds to be used for a voluntary pre-kindergarten program in Tennessee that he hopes will one day be a national model. This first installment is expected to pay for about 300 classrooms for about 6,000 poor or at-risk 4-year-olds. That would triple the number of children already served by a state pilot program but still represents only a fraction of the estimated 37,000 disadvantaged pre-kindergarteners in the state. "We are going to continue growing this program to the point where every child in our state — every 4-year-old whose parents want to them to be in a program like this — has access to it. That is my goal," the governor vowed. Although some counties are delaying participation because they lack facilities for pre-K classes, the state Department of Education says it has received inquiries for nearly 400 classrooms. Bredesen said he wants to fill all requests, if only through partial funding next year. "I look at this a little like paying down a mortgage. Every year you do a little bit, and you wake up one day and suddenly you have a lot of equity in your house. I want to do that with education. I think we will look up in four, five, six years from now and there will be an absolute national model pre-K program in our state."

The House of Representatives Tuesday approved a proposal that creates the Governor's Book from Birth Fund at a funding level of $2 million. The Governor's Book from Birth Foundation promotes reading among pre-school children. Participating children receive a book per month at no cost to the family if local communities organize with the state to offer the program.

The Senate Finance Committee Tuesday fought off a Republican effort to limit Governor Bredesen's preschool initiative. But a last-minute plan that could have given state workers a larger pay raise stalled, despite backing from Lieutenant Governor John Wilder. The Legislature already has approved the bulk of the pre-K plan. But Republicans tried today to limit funding to just the upcoming year. The committee is controlled by Democrats, even though Republicans have a one-seat majority in the chamber. The Senate committee also delayed action on Wilder's plan that would have earmarked any extra money collected by the state for state employee pay raises. The senators have already decided in principal to boost the governor's proposed two percent pay hike for state employees to a three percent increase.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A last-minute plan to give state employees a shot at an even larger pay raise stalled Tuesday, despite the backing of Lt. Gov. John Wilder. Lawmakers are working out the final details in the state's $26 billion budget, forcing tough decisions on favorite initiatives for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The Senate Finance Committee - controlled by Democrats even though Republicans have a 17-16 majority in the full Senate - also fought back a GOP effort to limit Gov. Phil Bredesen's preschool expansion plan. Republicans wanted to force the governor to come back every year to get new approval to spend $25 million in lottery money on pre-kindergarten classes for 9,000 children. Right now the state has a pilot program serving 3,000 at-risk 4-year-olds. The Legislature already has approved the bulk of the pre-K plan. But Republicans tried Tuesday to limit funding to just the upcoming year. "We don't know how much the lottery is going to bring in from year to year," said Sen. Jeff Miller, R-Cleveland. "It's foolhardy to say we're going to put $25 million in no matter what happens."

When it came time to pick a model for a new statewide pre-kindergarten program, Gov. Phil Bredesen didn't have to look far. He went with a home-grown program. In the mid-1990s, a committee of educators and early childhood experts developed its ideal pre-kindergarten program, one designed to help youngsters develop at a good clip and prepare them socially and academically to succeed in school. They knew they were starting small — only about 600 children enrolled the first year — and that the future of a pre-K program could hinge on the results, so they set the bar high. The pilot required well-trained teachers and small class sizes and involved parents and age-appropriate lessons, one-on-one interaction and partnerships with other agencies. About 3,000 low-income children — mostly 4-year-olds — now go through this pre-K program each year, at a cost of about $10 million, and nearly all of the pilot programs have waiting lists. Tracked through elementary school, they consistently outperform low-income students who didn't go to preschool, and they do as well or better in reading than all children statewide.

If Tennessee's pre-kindergarten program grows quickly, finding enough good teachers may become a problem. Some systems already have a hard time recruiting and keeping them, despite having only a limited pre-K program now. "We can't find them now for anything," said Jim Duncan, director of Wilson County schools. "If they need to be certified preschool teachers, you're going to have some colleges mighty busy." They do have to be top-notch. Only 13 state-funded pre-K programs — including Tennessee's — require teachers to have a bachelor's degree and specialized training in early childhood education. The federal No Child Left Behind law doesn't address pre-K teachers, leaving it up to individual states and school systems. Many other preschool programs, including the federally funded Head Start program and public and private child-care centers, have lower standards for their teachers.

School systems, other providers are urged to join forces to get program started. It's not as simple as just saying "yes!" if Tennessee school systems decide to add pre-kindergarten classes under Gov. Phil Bredesen's new plan. It's going to take work. Schools will have to come up with the money, community support, space and staff to make it happen. And for some already struggling to make ends meet and keep chugging away each day, it's a daunting task. "A lot of things have to fall into place for this to work," said Ronnie Meador, director of Robertson County schools. "Budgets are tight, and (systems) are very tight on space." But the plan — which has been approved by the General Assembly — doesn't call on school districts to do it alone. In fact, the legislation was crafted in a way that pushes districts to work with local child-care centers, private pre-K providers and public school readiness programs such as Head Start — which may have the space, experience and other resources needed to speed up the process.

A growing number of states, including Tennessee, are expanding pre-K programs with the goal of eventually serving every child. Arkansas, North Carolina and Oklahoma have recently spent more money on their pre-K programs, and opened them to more children. Others are laying the foundation or battling through tight state budgets to keep programs afloat. And the area that's the most aggressive? The South, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research report. "The states that have moved most rapidly to offer preschool to the most kids are in the South. The South is investing," said Steve Barnett, director of the National Institute for Early Education Research, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank dedicated to expanding pre-K nationally. "It seems to be that the Southern states have focused on education as a means of improving their economic competitiveness, investing in their work force."

They need older kids to offset cost of care for babies. If Tennessee's child-care centers lose their oldest kids to public pre-K programs, parents may pay the price. Folks who run these centers say that if they're squeezed out and lose a chunk of their older kids — ages 3, 4 and 5 — the charges for providing care for younger children could go up by as much as 70%. That much of a bump would be a hardship for many families already paying for care of several kids. If a center loses their 4-year-olds, you either have to increase your fees dramatically or you shut down completely," said Patti Gibson, director of the Portland Learning Center in Sumner County. "You actually begin to break even with 3-year-olds, but you have to have the 4-year-olds." That's because child-care centers typically subsidize infant and toddler care — which is more costly to provide because it's labor-intensive and the mandatory staff ratios are lower — through the larger class sizes allowed for older children. But Tennessee's child-care centers, many of which already serve preschool-age children, may have something very important to contribute to a proposed statewide pre-K program: space. Districts are encouraged to partner with child-care centers to provide pre-K classes.

The use of lottery profits for Tennessee's pre-K program has been a sizzling topic, spurring arguments that relying on the gambling money could leave Tennessee's preschools vulnerable in future years. The General Assembly recently approved earmarking $25 million — in proceeds from the year-old lottery — to jump-start the voluntary program that eventually would be open to every 4-year-old. However, Gov. Phil Bredesen, who estimates that the cost of statewide pre-K could reach $150 million to $275 million when it's open to every child, has defused much of the debate by saying he won't rely on lottery money for the whole thing. "While I'm asking that excess lottery funds be used in this first year, I recognize the future increases will have to come largely from Tennessee's general fund," he said during his Jan. 31 State of the State address. "I will propose additional funding each year that I am governor." Other states, particularly Georgia, built their pre-K programs on lottery revenues and rely on that money to keep going. However, as participation in the lottery fluctuates, so does funding for pre-K — and states have had to make cuts or up the funding to keep the programs going.

Tennessee knows it doesn't have all the answers, but it's watching other states and learning from their missteps. Only time will tell now if pre-K is the way to improve Tennessee schools, or just another bloated government program. Gov. Phil Bredesen's plan to expand the publicly funded school readiness program has been approved by the General Assembly, and it's expected to become a reality this fall. “In the end, it means more opportunity," the governor said. "What it means is young people in Tennessee who, for a variety of reasons, may not be ready to take full advantage of going into kindergarten — that many more of them will be prepared to do that." Supporters say a program designed to equip children, particularly those from poor families, with the skills they need to succeed may have wide-reaching implications for a state that has long lagged behind others in school spending and student achievement. "If Tennessee does this program, this will pay dividends for years to come," said Steve Barnett, director of the National Institute for Early Education Research, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank dedicated to expanding preschool. "You're going to close that achievement gap right from the beginning. It also positions Tennessee to be a leader in education."

Hundreds of more East Tennessee children could soon get an earlier start in school. The Knox County School District plans to ask the state to help fund eight new pre-school classes. Governor Phil Bredesen is expected to sign legislation that would put 25 million dollars toward the expansion of the state's Pre-K Program, but how much of that money will come to Knox county is not yet known. School leaders believe they need at least eight hundred thousand dollars to start eight new classes. If they get that money, they hope to hold those classes in area churches. Currently, 350 three and four year olds take part in Knox County's Pre-K Program--another 160 would be added under this plan.

Gov. Phil Bredesen made pre-K the centerpiece of his 2005-06 budget proposal. Shortly after announcing his plan to earmark $25 million — in lottery proceeds — to serve more students this fall and jumpstart a publicly funded statewide pre-K program, he sat down to explain why. Bredesen, 61, didn't attend pre-K or kindergarten because they weren't available, but his wife, Andrea Conte, has long championed the value of early childhood education, and they sent their only son, Ben, to preschool. Why is expanding pre-K one of your priorities? When you look long-term in our state, we have a real problem with the relatively low number of people graduating from high school, the relatively low number of people graduating from college. It seems to me you can address those issues so much more effectively on the front end than remedial programs when you're in eighth grade or something to try and keep you in school. You recently announced plans to cut TennCare. How do you justify expanding pre-K in a year when TennCare is front and center? It's about balancing. TennCare is important but so is pre-K, so is K-12 and so is higher education. Instead of having TennCare be the dragon that comes and drinks and eats all it wants and then anything that's left over everybody else gets, let's try to put some controls on it and spread the money around to a variety of places. Some lawmakers are talking about increasing the current lottery-funded scholarship amounts or expanding the eligibility, which could cut into the amount left over for pre-K. Where do you stand on that?

School officials strategize to get slice of Bredesen's new pie. Knox County Schools plan to ask the state to fund eight preschool classes, which would give up to 160 youngsters a head start on their education. But school officials have no way to know whether they will get the money, and another barrier lies ahead: finding places to hold the classes. Administrators also must decide which 4-year-olds would be eligible to enroll. "The thing that will be our biggest hurdle or obstacle will be facilities," said Assistant Superintendent Donna Wright. Anticipating Gov. Phil Bredesen's signature on a bill to offer free pre-K classes to more children, Wright and other Knox County officials have hit the drawing board. "We're doing front-end planning to be ready to make our best shot at getting our share of the pie," said Karen Hembree, a Knox County supervisor charged with studying pre-K.

The state's voluntary preschool program is one step closer to reality, as the Senate passed the governor's plan Thursday on a 27-2 vote. Under Gov. Phil Bredesen's plan, $25 million in state lottery money would be distributed to school districts that are willing to share the costs of having preschool classrooms. According to an Associated Press report, "The governor estimates the money would be enough to triple the current preschool pilot program of 3,000 students. The legislation allows the governor to expand the program across the state as money becomes available." Bredesen said, "This is a real victory for Tennessee children and for all Tennesseans. With the support of local communities, educators and families, we have begun the process of making a quality pre-K education available to every 4-year-old in Tennessee." The final version passed by the Senate specifies that preference will be given to school districts focusing on "at-risk" children, according to AP, while others will only be allowed in classrooms that can't be filled with the at-risk children. Some critics of the plan have said the measure could eventually cost the state more than $200 million, but Sen. Don McLeary, the Jackson Democrat who carried the governor's plan through the Senate, said the bill was drafted to make sure that no more than $25 million will ever be used for the preschool program - future expansions would have to come out of general tax dollars, according to AP.

Four-year-olds in Clarks-ville could be closer to having access to preschool classes. Gov. Phil Bredesen's voluntary prekindergarten bill passed in the state Senate Thursday with an amendment that will give priority to at-risk children. Although the bill passed in the House on April 27, it must now go to a conference committee because of the added amendment. Lydia Lenker, spokesperson for the governor, said it would probably go back to the House early next week. Vicki Wallace, director of elementary education for the local school system, said if the initiative passes, there is a strong possibility the local school district will apply for funding a pre-K program. In Bredesen's 2005-06 budget proposal, $25 million in lottery money is earmarked for preschool. "It's probable that we would apply for two classes," Wallace said. She added that the classrooms would be placed in Title I schools, which serve disadvantaged and at-risk children. Schools Director Sandra Husk said in March that if the district receives approval to operate preschool classes, $96,000 would have to be added to the school system's 2005-06 budget proposal for each class. Connie Casha, education consultant for the Tennessee Department of Education, said 75 percent of the costs will be funded by the state and the districts could pay the remaining 25 percent.

Supporters predict learning success. About 6,000 needy 4-year-olds will be getting an extra year of free education beginning this fall after the governor's pre-kindergarten proposal cleared its last major hurdle yesterday. Yesterday's thumbs-up from the Senate earmarks $25 million in lottery proceeds for expanding pre-K and takes the first step toward turning Gov. Phil Bredesen's proposal into a statewide program. Cindy Bunch, a Morgan County mother of four, was touring the Capitol during the vote yesterday. She was happy the pre-kindergarten proposal passed the Senate. ''It's a good idea. It'll be a good thing, and it's the only thing I've heard about the lottery that I approve of,'' Bunch said. Patrick Smith, legislative liaison for Bredesen, said the expansion of the program ''will reap benefits for the state of Te