Yesterday, Republican candidate for Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a proposal to improve early childhood education in Texas.
During a press conference, Abbott said expanding state-funded pre-kindergarten programs without addressing the quality of instruction 鈥渨ould be an act of negligence and waste.鈥�
Today, educators from groups endorsing Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis gathered in front of north Austin's Lucy Read Pre-kindergarten School to say that expanding pre-k is "not a waste."
Abbott鈥檚 plan would grant an additional $1500 per pre-k student in districts that agree to meet new 鈥済old鈥� standards, a determination that would be made through testing and other assessments. Louis Malfaro, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers' Texas chapter, says the last thing pre-k students need is more testing.
鈥淵es, we embrace high standards. However, we don鈥檛 think that means we should not invest on a platform where we know high standards already exist,鈥� Malfaro said.
Rita Haecker, president of the Texas State Teachers Association, said if Abbott is serious about supporting education, he should stop defending the Texas Legislature's 2011 cut to pre-k programs in court.
鈥淐alling PreK education of all Texan students a waste is an insult to our students, our parents, our community, and our state," said Education Austin's Montserrat Garibay.
KUT has asked Greg Abbott鈥檚 campaign for a response to the groups' statements.
