Pre-K Legislative Committee
The Pre-K Legislative Committee is comprised of school board members who advocate to expand access and improve the quality of voluntary pre-k programs through federal action. Members serve as a resource to their members of Congress and their community.
Why is Pre-K so Important to Your School District?
- Multiple studies have shown that quality pre-k programs help children develop the cognitive and social skills that are essential building blocks for their future success.
- Quality preschool can help to close the achievement gap between low-income children and their more affluent peers -- a main goal of No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
- Quality preschool pays dividends for years to come, with returns of between $2 and $16 for each dollar invested, studies have shown.
Why is Federal Action Necessary?
- The U.S. Department of Education currently spends less than 1% of its total budget on preschool education.
- Access to publicly funded pre-k programs is uneven; 11 states do not offer any publicly funded pre-k.
- Compared to other developed countries, the U.S. invests fewer resources in preschool programs.
For more pre-k resources, please visit the Center for Public Education and the Early Education section of NSBA's website.
For more information on the Pre-K Legislative Committee, please contact Kathleen Branch at 703-838-6735 or by e-mail at kbranch@nsba.org; or contact Melissa Harden at 703-838-6160 or by e-mail at mharden@nsba.org.
LATEST NEWS
The House Education and Labor Committee passed the Pre-K Act, H.R. 3289, on June 26, 2008. The bill was introduced by Representative Mazie Hirono (D-HI-2).
Resources
- NSBA's Issue Brief on Voluntary Preschool
[HTML 7,138kb]
Learn about NSBA's position on the importance of early education in public schools.
- The Pre-K Act, H.R. 3289, Comparison Chart
[PDF 62,491kb]
Download a chart comparing the original version of the bill with the version reported out of the House Education and Labor Committee.
- House Education and Labor Committee passed H.R. 3289, the Pre-K Act, on 6/26/08 introduced by Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) [PDF 452,329kb]
Download the a copy of the bill that passed the committee.
- Pre-K Legislative Committee Webinar Survey Results: June 19, 2008 [PDF 29,951kb]
- NSBA's Letter to Representative Mazie Hirono: May 12, 2008 [HTML 4,002kb]
Re: Providing Resources Early for Kids Act of 2007 (H.R. 3289)
- Pre-K Legislative Committee Webinar: April 22, 2008 [PPT 1,176,576kb]
Download a copy of the webinar presentation, "Pre-K Messaging: Positives and Pitfalls."
- Pre-K Legislative Committee FRN Presentation [PPT 1,064,960kb]
Update on NSBA's legislative committee for grassroots members with an interest in advocacy for voluntary pre-k issues.
- Pre-K Legislative Committee Webinar: December 4, 2007
Download the first webinar presentation of the Pre-K Legislative Committee.
- NSBA's Pre-K Committee Welcome Call Notes [HTML 13,028kb]
Read the notes from the first conference call of NSBA's Pre-K Legislative Committee. Learn about committee member responsibilities and what has been happening legislatively in Washington, DC.
- Pre-K Legislation Side-By-Side Comparison: October 2007 [HTML 43,662kb]
A side-by-side comparison of selected pre-k bills introduced in the 110th Congress.
- Center for Public Education Brochure: Many Happy Returns [PDF 417,247kb]
A brochure that gives an overview of the research, characteristics of effective programs, and examples of successful pre-k initiatives.
- NSBA Policy Research Brief: Expanding Voluntary Preschool Education [PDF 318,725kb]
Learn about efforts to prepare our children for school, what research tells us, and how the federal government can assist school districts in implementing effective programs
- Center for Public Education
For more pre-k information and resources, visit the Center for Public Education.
- U.S. Senate: 2007 Calendar
Check to see when the Senate is in recess to schedule meetings with your senators in your state.
- U.S. House of Representatives: 2007 Calendar
Check to see when the House is in recess to schedule meetings with your representatives in your state.