Clark to announce education program

[PSU84]

The Boston Globe December 3, 2003

Clark to announce education program

By Joanna Weiss, Globe Staff

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Retired Army General Wesley K. Clark will announce a $70 billion early childhood education plan today that calls for universal access to preschool for 4-year-olds, an expansion of Head Start, and improvement in preschools' academic standards. Clark will announce the plan this morning at a child-care center in Rochester. Clark said in an interview that his interest in early childhood education stems from his having advocated for the Head Start program on military bases.

"The sum total of my experience was, the earlier you start the better," Clark said. Aides say Clark, a Democratic candidate for president, has expressed an interest in existing early childhood programs including one funded by Susan A. Buffett, the daughter of investor Warren Buffett.

Clark's plan would provide $50 billion in block grants to states for creating voluntary preschool programs that focus on preparing toddlers to learn reading and math. He would hold states to "school readiness standards" and require "lead teachers" to have a bachelor's degree and training or experience in early childhood education.

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http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/clark/articles/2003/12/03/clark_to_announce_education_program/