EDITORIAL: State Should Open LA 4 To Every Kid
The Daily Advertiser (excerpt)

Senate Bill 286 may be one of the most important bills of the 2008 regular legislative session. The legislation phases in universal access to Louisiana's successful LA 4 pre-kindergarten program during the next six years.

Simply put, LA 4 is great public policy executed very well.

When we spoke to school leaders, they told us not to forget about the majority of children in the middle - those who do not benefit from extra resources provided for at-risk children or the gifted and talented.

They talked about the importance of providing better access to quality early childhood education for middle-income children - especially in rural communities where pre-K choices are more limited.

Blueprint Louisiana also studied the impact of early childhood education on both learning and economics. On the economic side, research in our state and others showed every dollar spent on quality early childhood education had a direct return of $2 to $5 and an indirect return of $4 to $8.

By providing children a chance to learn during the years when their mind is most receptive, our leaders can invest where it makes sense. Any of us observing 3- and 4-year-olds know their capacity for learning. If you agree, let your legislators know you support continued investment in quality early childhood education in our state.