Includes Pre-K grant which Governor Mike Pence declined, denying a statewide program for Hoosier children
INDIANAPOLIS – John Zody, Chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party, released the following statement to applaud Congress’s decision to pass Every Student Succeeds Act – specifically a provision to keep pre-k grant opportunities for states.
“It’s refreshing to see Congress come together in a bipartisan fashion and solve some of today’s problems for our country’s education system. With the Every Student Succeeds Act, states can still have access to the critical grant that would help establish statewide Pre-K programs. Unfortunately, though, Hoosiers learned that such an opportunity would not happen under Mike Pence’s watch when in 2014 he declined the chance to create a statewide pre-k system in the Hoosier State and slammed the door on $80 million. With demand exceeding expectations and more than 82% of Hoosiers in support of a program, it’s a shame Pence put his ideology ahead of the well-being of our children – and still can’t say with confidence that he believes early childhood education is of value. We can do better.”
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