TOP STORY:

New York Cities Preschool Rollout. Early education hit an important milestone yesterday: More than 50,000 4-year-olds started voluntary, full-day preschool in New York City. This New York Times editorial appropriately highlights the significance. In this Wall Street Journal article, FFYF Executive Director Kris Perry lauded the accomplishment but cautioned that quality should not be sacrificed for speed.

Read More:

Final Touches Range From Flowery to Frantic as Expanded Pre-K Awaits

Expanded Pre-K Kicks Off as New York Students Head Back to School 

Pre-K Students to Be in Spotlight on City’s First Day of School 

Fariña: Pre-K gives children a chance to realize their dreams 

NPR: Gentlemen, Preschool Is Calling 

And our take: New York City’s Preschool Rollout: If they can make it there, we can make it anywhere.

OTHER NATIONAL NEWS

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will head to Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee on his annual back-to-school bus tour and plans to discuss and highlight state efforts on topics including early childhood education and the administration’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative.

FROM THE STATES

Alabama

Alabama’s pre-K program receives high marks Read More…

California

Los Angeles Unified Board of Education passed a resolution to increase funding for the district’s early education program by millions of dollars Read More…

Florida

A regional president of PNC Bank in Florida tells the Sun-Sentinel “why early childhood education matters” Read More…

Illinois

The “Bright Future Chicago” campaign is working to bring universal child care to Chicago families, which backers call “the key to college” Read More…

Maine

Maine House of Representatives member says “investments in early education pay off” Read More…

Mississippi

The Daily Journal called for more funding in pre-K for the state to continue its economic development Read More…