Candidates For Governor Split On Expanding Pre-K

Candidates in Tennessee’s race for governor are split about whether to expand Pre-Kindergarten education in the state. The program readies Tennessee four-year-olds for school, but is not available statewide.

Several Republican candidates say they support the program’s use among disadvantaged children, but don’t want to expand it. Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey argues there’s little to gain from broadening the program.

“So this is all about prioritizing. Every dollar that we put in the Pre-K program is a dollar that’s taken away from the K through 12 reforms that we’re trying to do right now.”

Meanwhile Democratic candidates praised Pre-K, with Mike McWherter calling the voluntary program a “home run.” And State Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle said as governor he would push for Pre-K education statewide.

EXTRAS:

You can hear all seven of the major candidates for governor weigh in Pre-K here:

In order, the candidates speaking are Democrat Mike McWherter, Republican Congressman Zach Wamp, State Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle (D), Republican Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey (R), Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam (R), former State House Majority Leader Kim McMillan (D), and Memphis District Attorney Bill Gibbons (R).

The candidates spoke at a forum hosted by former U.S. Senator Bill Frist’s State Collaborative On Reforming Education (SCORE), and WTVF-TV.

You can hear the candidates’ closing remarks here:

In order, the candidates speaking are Wamp, Kyle, Ramsey, Haslam, McMillan, Gibbons and McWherter.