Take Education Secretary’s advice now: Don’t cut preschool (VIDEO)

U.S. Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan Duncan will speak at Gov. Branstad’s education summit this summer. In the recent NBC story below, Duncan warned that “cutting spending on education isn’t smart,” and said “I simply think we can’t win the future by cheating children at the starting line.”

Governor, why not take Secretary Duncan’s advice right now and join Senate Democrats in protecting Iowa’s high quality early education program?

More on the benefits of early childhoold education:
A recent CBS story showed these positive benefits at a preschool in New Jersey.

“When you come into my classroom you would probably say ‘The children are playing,’ and I would argue they’re not playing — they’re learning,” said teacher Meghan Lawton.

Lawton’s got a point. Her 4- and 5-year-olds already seem to be a step ahead with their numbers, their letters and even on a computer.

“The evidence is really clear…pre-school makes a big difference…by itself it can cut school failure in half,” said Steve Barnett.

One study found high school graduation rates 17 percentage points higher in a district with public Pre-K.