Haslam Pulls Reins On Pre-K Expansion

Gov. Bill Haslam has changed his tune regarding pre-Kindergarten programs, in light of a recent study that  raises questions about their effectiveness.

In an address to the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday morning, Haslam
 expressed caution about state spending. He 
says he was prepared to expand pre-K, until researchers at Vanderbilt University put out
their latest report on Tennessee’s program
. They found that, by third grade, low-income students who enrolled in the state’s pre-K performed worse than those who had skipped it.

“Heck, since I first started running in 2010, I said let’s wait and see the effects of the longitudinal study. If it merits it, we’ll talk about expanding it,” said Haslam. “So I think with the results being what they are, I don’t think that’s the right move now.” 

Still, Haslam shied away from a clear-cut position. Though he doesn’t plan to expand pre-K, he is not prepared to step away from current early childhood education initiatives.