Carroll proposing an alternative to Beshear’s Pre-K for All

State Senator Danny Carroll is proposing an alternative to the initiative being pushed by Governor Andy Beshear.

Carroll, speaking in a forum at the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, warned that the Governor’s proposal is just words. He suggested that a real plan of action and a realistic budget have not been shared with members of the General Assembly.

Carroll said, “Everything that you hear the Governor or the Lt. Governor speak about is all catchphrases. Everybody agrees that universal Pre-K would be great. We all agree that it would help with workforce. We all agree that it would help with this, that. But there’s no plan. There’s no pricetag. I’ve seen a figure that the Governor has requested. It wouldn’t come close to unversal public Pre-K.”

Carroll has an alternative plan that he will roll out during the session that would fund existing Pre-K programs based on Kindergarten readiness.

He added, “It makes perfect sense to me that we fund based on Kindergarten readiness, because that is where education begins in our school system. And we know that those kids that are Kindergarten ready will excel.”

Carroll offered to work with the Governor’s team to see if there were ideas that could be merged to develop the most effective solution to what is a growing problem in the Commonwealth.

The General Assembly reconvenes for the 90-day Budget Session on January 6th.