Gov. Beshear's Pre-K for All initiative aims to close achievement gap, boost workforce
According to a news release, the Pre-K for All initiative is projected to grow Kentucky's workforce by up to 70,000 people while providing a higher quality education for future generations.
State statistics showed that during the 2023 academic year, 53.8% of Kentucky's children were unprepared when they showed up for their first day of kindergarten.
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'Before they even step through the door, they are behind. This creates an achievement gap that is nearly impossible to close,' Gov. Beshear said. 'To increase kindergarten-readiness, we need to offer pre-K for every 4-year-old across the state of Kentucky.'
Beshear noted during Wednesday's event in Louisville that 18 states, including Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, and West Virginia, offer pre-K access for all 4-year-olds.
The governor reportedly issued an executive order on Wednesday creating the Team Kentucky Pre-K for All Advisory Committee, consisting of 28 members from across the state with 'a broad range of experience in business, workforce development, and education.'
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Beshear said that data from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services shows that of Kentucky's 120 counties, nearly two-thirds don't have access to enough child care to serve each family who needs it, with the majority of those located in eastern Kentucky.
More information about Beshear's June 4 executive order, including those appointed to the PreK for All Advisory Committee, can be found here.
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