Status Quo for Pre-K: Haslam

As Governor Bill Haslam eyes potential budget cuts to programs across the state, one he expects he’ll leave alone is pre-Kindergarten education.

Some have called to expand pre-K in Tennessee, citing it as a model to other states. Others point to research arguing it’s overrated, and would trim the program back. But Haslam’s not sweating that research:

“Pre-K and studies are like a lot of things; you know, people say you can use statistics to prove what you want to. Here’s my bottom line take on that: pre-K we have in place at some of our higher risk schools right now, and I think we should stay there.”

Spreading pre-K statewide would cost hundred of millions of dollars. Haslam says that’s money the state doesn’t have.