TheApple

 As a former Head Start teacher, I'm very much in favor of this:

Sadly, there has NOT been that much talk about pre-k in the campaigns so far, and last Friday's debate was no exception. But together, we have an opportunity to change that.

The town hall format of next week's presidential debate provides ordinary Americans a chance to address the candidates. In fact, the debate commission has set up a website for you to submit a question.

Click here to submit a question TODAY about pre-k for Sen. McCain and Sen. Obama to debate.

To their credit, both candidates have statements on their websites about their support for pre-k. That's a good thing. But an issue as important as early childhood education shouldn't be relegated to a position statement – the candidates' pre-k proposals deserve real debate.

Families need state-funded pre-k more than ever. Don't let the candidates avoid the topic in Nashville! We've heard an awful lot in the last few weeks about federal money going to Wall Street – shouldn't we start talking about America's future workforce and building our nation's human capital, both of which are just as critical to our economic viability?

Federal support for quality pre-k deserves a prominent place in the debate. And, like any town hall, if we don't raise our hands and speak up, we won't be heard. It's up to us to make sure that we're listened to. And hurry, because the deadline to submit questions is tomorrow.

Below is a list of sample questions you can use. You're also welcome – encouraged, in fact – to write your own!

• Unfortunately, American families currently face an inadequate patchwork of pre-k programs: they are often exorbitantly expensive or simply unavailable. Only 1 in 5 children has access to state-funded, voluntary pre-k. And the quality of programs varies widely. What is your position on the federal government's role in supporting state-funded programs?


• Ample research shows that high-quality pre-k has lasting benefits for children – from the first day of kindergarten through high school, college, and into adulthood – and for the communities they will live and work in as adults. How will you make pre-k a priority if elected president?


• A child's most important brain development occurs before age 5. Yet currently, federal investments in programs that help children thrive are at their very lowest during these early years. How will you make early care and education a national priority?


• Children who attend high-quality pre-k programs learn the fundamentals of success in school: numbers, letters and teamwork. Studies show they are less likely to need special education or to repeat a grade, and more likely to graduate from high school. They go on to earn more as adults and are less likely to become dependent on welfare or involved in crime. How will you ensure access to pre-k for American children?

For Sam, for all children, for our future, we are obligated to insist on answers from the candidates to pre-k policy questions. With your help, we will force them to address the issue with tens of millions of Americans watching and holding them accountable. The more pre-k questions we submit, the better chance one will be asked at next week's debate.

Click here to submit your question and help to ensure that Senators McCain and Obama go on the record – on air – about pre-k.

When you get to the question site, please be patient. Once the screen loads, you can continue as a "guest" and click to submit a question in the upper right-hand corner of the web page.

Please don't delay – questions must be received by tomorrow, Tuesday, September 30, to be considered.

Sam and other three and four year olds across the country are too young to advocate for their own learning opportunities or to ask a question of the candidates for president. That's why we must speak on their behalf.

Be bold!

Thank you so much for your help.

Sincerely,

Libby Doggett

NoSchoolForSam.org

A project of Pre-K Now

Is Pre-K any more important than 1st grade, or 4th grade, or 7th grade, or 10th grade? I'm not sure.

Looking for Pre-K to be a central theme in the current election is a bit far fetched. Education, in general, has NEVER been in the forefront of a national election. There are much broader issues involved in education than just one grade. If education does get into the political mix, the issue of No Child Left Behind (AKA let's test everybody to see if they can pass a test) is far more important...in my silly opinion.

 >>It's where it all starts, Joel!<<

So? Some would argue that it would make more sense in spending time and money trying to get more kids to graduate from high school. Others might say it's more important to better science and math education to compete in the tech world ahead of us. A few might even say we out to teach more "Civics" so that people would be able to be more intelligent voters.

It's all the way you look at things. 

I'm sure that there is data that will tell us that getting more high school graduates, improving math and science education and enhancing Civics will all help society in the future.

I'm not a big fan of data since I know it can and is used to support whatever it is you want to support.

In the 2008 election, the only place that education may appear prominently may be in the area of how much will the CUTS in education be.

My first year out of college I taught pre-k in The Bronx.  I also wrote a paper on head start.  The head teacher in head start makes 27,000 a year.  In order to get high qualty teachers in pre-k you need to pay them more.  Most teachers leave pre-k within two years to make more money.

I don't have time to read all the post, but the government needs to get involved to improve the quality of education young children receive.  More mom's work now and there is a high demand for well trained professionals to take care of and teach their children.

johnslat your  turn to show that there is plenty of data supporting this.  I know it but just can't take the time to look up all the supporting references.