Candidates for Governor Span Wide Pre K Spectrum

Tennessee’s Pre Kindergarten program is either a “home run” or a financial drain on education, depending on which candidate for governor you listen to. They staked out their positions Wednesday at a forum organized by the state’s Commission on Children and Youth.

Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey has never been Pre-K’s biggest cheerleader, but he sees the pluses, at least for students from poor families. As for opening enrollment to all Tennessee kids…

“I’m going to be right up front with you, I’m not sure that universal Pre K is the highest and best use of our money here in the state of Tennessee.”

Ramsey, who is in the governor’s race for the Republican nomination, says a dollar spent on Pre K is a dollar taken away from K-through-12. The state currently spends $83 million a year on the program.

Governor Phil Bredesen has made a push to expand Pre K to all Tennessee students, and Democratic candidate Kim McMillan says she wants to see the vision through.

“It is so important to make sure that our children, and not just children who are poor, but all our children are ready to learn when they start kindergarten.”

McMillan’s primary opponent Mike McWherter of Jackson calls Pre K a “home run.”

Some of the Republican candidates are also in favor of expanding the $83 million program. Chattanooga Congressman Zach Wamp says Governor Bredesen “got us started. We need to do more.”

Shelby County DA Bill Gibbons wants to pay for universal Pre K with lottery money. He says he’d reduce what retailers, like gas stations, make when they sell lottery tickets.

“The result, frankly, will be that big oil is getting less money from the lottery but the children of our state will be getting more benefits.”

Gibbons’ comment is directed at Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, whose family owns Pilot Travel Centers.

Haslam likes Pre K, but he says the state can’t afford to spend more on the program.

“To be honest with you right now, I would love to see us expand Pre K, but I don’t know we have the funds to do that.”

A state Comptroller’s report out this week finds that Pre K prepares students for 1st grade but its long term impact on student achievement is limited.

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