States

State Journal

December 06, 2000 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Promoting Preschool

Fresh from her re-election victory last month, New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen went on the stump again last week.

This time, the Democratic governor was visiting media outlets in the Washington area to promote the importance of education during a child’s first few years of life.

As the current chairwoman of the Denver-based Education Commission of the States, Gov. Shaheen has launched a two-year initiative aimed at helping states improve learning opportunities for young children. Last Thursday in New Haven, Conn., the ECS kicked off the first of a series of regional meetings on the subject for governors, state agency officials, early-childhood educators, and leaders of business and philanthropic groups.

“If we’re ever going to get the results we want in K-12 education, we’ve got to recognize the importance of the early years and the fact that we have a nonsystem of early learning,” the governor told Education Week during one stop on her new campaign.

A 1998 nationwide survey of teachers suggested that barely half of kindergartners make the transition to formal schooling without significant problems. And, among states, only Georgia and New York offer some form of universal prekindergarten programs.

But, judging by the response to last week’s meeting in New Haven, interest in the issue may be on the upswing, Ms. Shaheen said. Of the 11 Northeastern states invited to send representatives, eight did so. Other meetings are planned for the Midwest and the Southeast before the governor’s term as chairwoman ends in June.

“When people stop and think about this issue, they realize it’s important,” she said.

—Debra Viadero

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the December 06, 2000 edition of Education Week

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Special Education Webinar
Big Goals, Small Start: Building MTSS to Scale
MTSS is a powerful framework for supporting student success, but implementation can be challenging. Learn from districts about their MTSS success stories and challenges.
Content provided by Panorama Education
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Recruitment & Retention Webinar
Exploring Staff Shortage Impact on Education
Learn about the impact of staff shortages, changing roles of educators, and how technology supports teachers & students.
Content provided by Promethean
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Improving Outcomes on State Assessments with Data-Driven Strategies
State testing is around the corner! Join us as we discuss how teachers can use formative data to drive improved outcomes on state assessments.
Content provided by Instructure

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

States Which States Are Considering 'Don't Say Gay' Bills and Where They Stand
Over the past three years, legislative attacks on education about gender identity and sexual orientation have picked up momentum.
1 min read
42 copycat bills limiting sexual orientation and gender identity education bills have been 22 states have been introduced since 2021, according to PEN America and EdWeek reporting.
42 copycat bills limiting sexual orientation and gender identity education bills have been 22 states have been introduced since 2021, according to PEN America and EdWeek reporting.<br/>
States Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' Law Continues to Spur More Extreme Versions Nationwide
Forty two bills have been introduced in 22 states based on the controversial measure, with many mandating more excessive censorship.
4 min read
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis displays the signed Parental Rights in Education, aka the Don't Say Gay bill, flanked by elementary school students during a news conference on Monday, March 28, 2022, at Classical Preparatory school in Shady Hills, Fla.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis displays the signed Parental Rights in Education, the so called "Don't Say Gay" bill, flanked by elementary school students during a news conference last March at Classical Preparatory School in Shady Hills, Fla. Forty two bills have been introduced in 22 states based on the controversial measure, with many mandating more excessive censorship.
Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP
States Plans to Require Student COVID-19 Vaccinations Flopped. Here's Why
Policies mandating COVID-19 vaccines for school attendance have largely failed to materialize three years into the pandemic.
5 min read
A hand wearing a blue latex glove lifts a syringe out of a small metal bin labeled "Moderna" that rests on a table next to bins that say "Pfizer" and "flu."
A worker prepares syringes at a free COVID-19 and flu vaccination event in Lynwood, Calif., last month. States are not adding COVID-19 to the list of required immunizations children must receive to attend public school.
Mark J. Terrill/AP
States This State Set Up a Program to Reduce Chronic Absences. It Worked
A program in Connecticut sent school employees to families' homes to address absenteeism's root causes.
4 min read
Rebecca Grabill/E+
Rebecca Grabill/E+