Sacramento, Ca  –  California Fair Share issued the following statement, in response to a tentative agreement among state legislators to fund 43,000 new, full-day Pre-K slots, which will be phased in over the coming years:

“The agreement reached in budget conference committee is a modest step forward for California’s kids, California’s economy and California’s future,” said Jason Pfeifle, California Fair Share state director. “It reflects a national trend toward expanding early childhood education opportunities as well as a recognition that kids enrolled in Pre-K do better in elementary school and do better in life. At the same time, we are disappointed that legislators could not do more to expand early learning opportunities for infants and toddlers. Still, this agreement is a building block we can grow on, and we hope the California Legislature will pass its spending bill with this funding intact and that Gov. Brown will sign the bill.”

California Fair Share stands for an America where everyone gets their fair share, does their fair share, and pays their fair share; and where everyone plays by the same rules. Find out more at www.fairshareonline.org