Sunday, September 23, 2007

Beshear says he'll improve schools

Candidate unsure of funds for plan

Democrat Steve Beshear said yesterday that if he's elected governor he will support expanded preschool education for low-income children and better quality of education for all public school students.

Beshear, speaking at the Unseld Childcare and Development Center in Louisville, said his opponent, Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a Republican, hasn't done enough for education.
"This current administration has let the state down in many ways but under-investing in education is one of the worst,'' Beshear said.

Fletcher spokesman Jason Keller rejected that claim.

"It appears he (Beshear) doesn't have a clue about the governor's work in education in Kentucky,'' Keller said yesterday, adding that Fletcher has worked with lawmakers to seek additional funds for education and develop new programs, including the "Read to Achieve'' program now offered in 300 schools.

Beshear didn't say how he would pay for his proposals, saying he would first need to get in office and study the state's budget situation. But his plan includes:

Expanding free voluntary preschool to children ages 3 and 4 whose family income is below 200 percent of the federal poverty level -- for a family of four, about $41,000. The state currently provides free preschool to 4-year-olds whose families are below 150 percent of the federal poverty level.

Improving students' basic skills in reading, math and science.

Raising teacher pay and providing more funding to education.

Improving school facilities and reducing class sizes from current guidelines that call for class sizes of 24 for the youngest students, to 31 for the oldest.

Beshear said he supports the basic tenets of the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990 but said the emphasis on high-stakes accountability testing, and other requirements, may need review.

"I think it's time to take a comprehensive look at KERA,'' he said....
This from the Courier-Journal.

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