Please support Iowa’s high quality preschool initiative for 20,000 Iowa four year olds. The preschool initiative is supported by educators, business leaders, and parents because research proves it helps raise student achievement while saving taxpayers money in the long run.

The statewide preschool initiative is sustainable and is a wise investment for our future. The state should not reduce access to public or private preschool and make it more difficult for middle class families. The state must also continue to guarantee quality instruction for children by certified teachers.

Ann Fisher,

Audrey Niederhauser,

Douglas Howe,
Hurting this investment in Iowa's future to balance the budget today is just another way of cooking the books.

Kevin M Griggs,

Adam Wright,

Susie LaBaume,

Tammie Krausman,
My daughter will be attending the 4 year program next year. I would love if her future classmates would also learn the fundamentals of standing in line, waiting their turn, routine, etc. making them all more productive when they reach kindergarten.

Anne Fredrickson,

Danielle Carlson,

Laura Nelson,
As an educator and in a country where we are falling behind other countries in education, why are we cutting funding to our future? Let's wake up Iowa and let's not make a mistake when it comes to the future of our children!

Kim Bergen-Jackson,

Heather Vantress,

Charles Swaggerty-Morgan,
preschool is very important to my community and family!!! I think Terry Brandstad should forfit his own pay as governor seing he is already collecting a fifty thousand dollar pention from the state of iowa....

Jason Swaggerty-Morgan,
As a father of 5 small children, I know the value of preschool. My oldest is in Kindergarten this year, but was in preschool last year. He has special needs. I do not know what we would have done without his preschool and his preschool teachers who helped us figure out how to best help him with his learning disability. So sad that anyone would want to cut this program when it helps those most in need! We must invest in our kids to invest in our future!

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Kathy Angerman,
There is so much required in k-12. Without preschool, alot of 4 and 5 year olds would not be ready to attend kindergarden. Alot of parents are working many jobs trying to pay the bills and put food on the table and are not able to work as much with their kids. Where will these kids be if they don't have the beginning skills for kindergarden. They would start off there school years not liking school and falling behind peers who were able to attend preschool. Please don't fail these kids by cutting this budget. Certified teachers are so important for these kids. you wouldn't take your car to someone that you hoped would be able to fix it, you would take it to someone who was certified to fix it. Why would you want anything less for our future, our children.

Scott Harrington,

Linda M. Nelson,
Pre-school is our best investment for Iowa's and our children's future. Building on the work a child's first and best teachers (parents) do, pre-school opportunities give children the readiness skills to begin Kindergarten on an even playing field with all others.

Sheila Hansen,

Jennifer Lane,
We have come so far in the last 5 years in educating our young children - lets not take a step backwards. These children will never be 4 again!! We are making a difference and getting kids ready for kindergarten by attending quality preschool - our children need us to stand up for them!

Kerry Moore Kroneman,

Lynn Glaser,
As a preschool teacher and a parent of a preschooler, this issue is so important to our family. I have seen the benefits of preschool for all children. Lets invest in our young children so that know we care about them.

Ed Glaser,
I work at an elementary school that serves students who traditionally have not had access to preschools with certified teachers. Our state has worked so hard and has made so much progress toward meeting the needs of all our preschool children over the past several years so they can come to school as kindergarteners more prepared. It is imperative that our students receive quality preschool instruction that focuses on the whole child. This will not happen if certified teachers are not teaching them.

PAM HOGAN,

Laurie Nash,
The current proposal eliminates quality, effective programs that are already serving low-income children. This is not progress.

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Preschool is imperative to successful, especially in the area of early intervention. Please, please do not take this very important grant and opportunity away from our children.

Joseph C.Cheatham,
The republicans fail to understand that Wall Street is responsible for the poor economy, not the citizens and workers in Iowa. Don't allow them to take their greed out on our children.

Amanda Ryba,
Please keep preschool available and affordable and know that for every dollar spent on a preschool child, the state gets seven dollars. Sounds like a great investment to me!!

Elizabeth Enzler,

Ann Johnson,
I've seen this program benefit children as a primary teacher in a low income school. It is a program that helps prevent children from starting out behind academically, socially and physically.

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Funding should be linked to QUALITY. Please keep this at the forefront regardless of what decisions are made. The training/education of the teachers is an imperative component of this. Programs that receive funding should be required to have a teacher who has a minimum degree of early childhood education training, ideally at a least two year degree.

Taresa David,

Montasir Mohamed,

Marsha Swanson,
After so very many years, Iowa made good progress on providing a quality preschool education for most who wanted it. Let's NOT take a step backwards!

Darrell Lewis,
I am a former member of the Mason City Board of Education and think it would be a travesty to take our exceptional public school programs backwards. We should work to strengthen them, not to weaken them.

Ellen Meier,

Julie S. Johnson,
If Terry Branstad and the R's really believe /month doesn't make an impact when you're living at, or even 100+% over poverty level (which is a distorted bad joke in itself), he is painfully WILLFULLY ignorant. Try living a year like that, Terry, anyone?

Branstad also does not believe preschools need certified teachers to teach pre-school.
If you support this belief as well, I expect that you will be fine with hiring a person with an MBA, who has taken a few wks. training, to implant stents in your arteries, or remove a cancerous prostate. Cut preschool, cut DHS/child protection. Jesus would vomit with this short-sighted politicking.

Jennifer Michel,

Jeffrey A. Leaman,
To take this opportunity away from our children, who need to grow and learn at the age when they are most ripe for development, would be the worst action this government could take.

Jodi Warden,
Our children are the future and we need to help prepare them to achieve! Providing a quality education at a young age is an important step in their future.

John Wolf,
To be world leaders, we need world educated people. We must prepare our students to compete with the best the world will provide if we are to remain a strong nation. And to do that, we need to start early; preschools need this funding not only for their sake, but for the sake of all Americans.

Judy Ackerman,
My Children and some of my grandchildren have benefited greatly by the preschool programs and Head Start program. What is going to happen to some of the children that really need help with early education? They will get lost in the cracks and I am sure will be a greater dropout rate once again in schools. What happened to the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ? YES THEY WILL GET LEFT BEHIND. All children should be able to benefit by these programs.

Don Ruffcorn,
my twin sons were lucky enough to be enrolled in the current program. During the past school year we have noticed that their speech and social behavior is re-markedly improving. We can only attest this to the hard work and dedication of their teachers. IOWA needs this program.

Heidi Grafton,

Jennifer Michel,

Jeffrey Michel,

Denise Kuhn,

Mark Hefel,

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Kari Drymon,
As an elementary teacher and a parent of three young children, I have seen the tremendous benefit of preschool. My own child gained a wonderful foundation for her future schooling because of the experiences she gained through her certified preschool teacher and staff. In my elementary school, children that otherwise would not get early intervention are getting it and it's helping children enter kindergarten with the tools and foundation they need to be successful students.

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I am a school social worker and eliminating the free program would definitely be detrimental to our children!!

Heather Yezek,

Deb Glab,
I have the privilege of working in an elementary school which houses a free four year old preschool. We are located in a low socioeconomic neighborhood. Our families would not be able to send their children to preschool without the opportunity of a free preschool. Many of our families would not be capable of completing a voucher due to their limited educational background. We need to help these families in any way we can. Your consideration in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Matt Ohman,
The Governor's new proposal mentions quality a lot. Quality assessment. Quality standards. But if you cut out the certified teacher, who drives that quality? True there are some uneducated "Diamonds in the rough" who are wonderful teachers, but that is the rare exception and not the rule. Would you take your child to a Pediatrician without a medical license? NO!

Janet El Khatib,
Ending the free 4 year old Preschool program is very detrimental to the education of our young children. It gives them such a strong foundation for future learning. Also to have noncertified teachers in the Preschools is so wrong. You need educated staff to provide for the children's educational experience.

John Stone,

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Claudia Collier,

Allison Schroeder,

Mary Koerperick,
Do not drop the preschool program!

Heather Wagner,

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Gary M. Schriver,

Heidi G Morris,
I work in a preschool and get the see the progress these children make. Please Do Not take this away from them!

Molly Duncan Matthews,
Preschool provides many long-term academic and social benefits for young children. It is especially important during these difficult economic times to keep Iowa children learning! It has been studied and documented that preschool creates more successful children. Please support this initiative, for the future of Iowa's children.

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My daughter will be of the age to attend this pre school and I find it incredibly necessary for not only her educational development but also her social development. To charge or eliminate this would be a serious detriment to Iowa and the children.

Sara Miller,

Tiffany Ferneding,

Amanda McLeod,

David Miller,

Meredith Halverson,
Having been in a kindergarten classroom, there is an obvious difference between the students who have had preschool and those who have not. The students who have not been in a preschool hold the other students back. Making preschool available and affordable for all families will advance our kindergarten curriculum which continues as a domino affect.

Renee Miller,

Jenny Hillebrand,

Jennifer Rosen,

Nicole Schrage,
As a parent of a 4 year old preschool student, I and several of my community members benefit greatly from the preschool grant program. This program allows ALL children the benefits of early education and not just the select few.

mike kennedy,

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Elaine Wagner,

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My husband and I feel strongly that the current preschool funding system best meets the needs of the state as a whole. The communities and school districts in Iowa now depend on the programs being offered as it is part of their infastructure.

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How far does the US have to fall in the education rankings before our government starts taking this seriously?

Nicole Winterwood,

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Preschool education is an essential part of early childhood development and should be state supported and taught by those properly trained and licensed. Cutting preschool programs takes away the most fundamental part of early childhood education and entrusts that those less trained can do as well a job. Its the equivalent of having the nurse perform surgery because you'd rather not pay the surgeon!

Jeremy Parrish,

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Rev. Sharla Hulsey,
Education at all levels is critical to a healthy democracy. Preschool education can help give kids a boost, and can help identify problems such as learning disabilities before they do harm to a student's education and their love of learning. Let us not damage Iowa's reputation of excellence in education.

Christopher Grunwald,

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carrie radloff,
Cutting preschool funding is penny wise but pound foolish. Making access to quality preschool compromises the state by neglecting to invest in its future workforce and taxpayers.

Keep preschool. Funding for it can be found by reducing corporate tax breaks that have proven ineffective.

Mary Kay Brimeyer,

Joan Ankenbauer,

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Please think about the kids!

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A five-year-old student who attended the PreK program last year came in without knowing his colors. He would not have been able to afford PreK without the government funding and would have been far behind his peers academically. PreK not only gives children fundamental skills such as lining up, but gives them an academic base that so few children receive at home.

Shelby,

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Angle Watson,

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Meg Gilligan,

Shelby Schumacher,
Please keep this program going. As a special education teacher and as a parent of young children, it is important to keep access for all students to get a head-start on their education.

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I agree with cutting Governor Branstad's salary. Why is he double dipping as the rest of us scratch and save! Why do people insist on cutting education all the time. Leave it alone and look at other options. It is too easy to cut education and then blame the economy that is why our esteemed representatives do it! It is easier than cutting elsewhere! Leave preschool and K-12 funding intact! Help us help kids and families! I ask this, has our "wonderful" governor set foot in a pre-school classroom?? Has he talked to people like his grand child who currently attends preschool for free?? How can he make informed decisions without all the facts! I thought our representatives were to do just that...represent us and make our needs/wants/ wishes known in Des Moines. So much for that! They are ignoring our requests and thinking of the big business. Stop this nonsense right now so schools can make plans and certified teachers know they have jobs to support their families!

Amy Pitz,

Jay Peterson,
Please keep this program!

Earl B. Kavanaugh,

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Limiting Pre-K funding and eliminating the requirement for pre-k teachers to be certified hurts children and families immediately, because it decreases their opportunities and increases their costs. Ultimately, this will hurt the very businesses/taxpayers the government is seeking to help now with the tax decrease. Business will be hurt in the short run because qualified workers will need increased pay to fund daycare or pre-k for children who might otherwise be in school. In the long run, businesses will be hurt because learning opportunities were limited to these future employees (the pre-k eligible children).

Ann Decker,
I was fortunate enough to have my 4 year old attend prek this year. I truly believe that attending prek has helped develop writing skills, learning skills, social skills and so much more! Having the opportunity to attend prek will certainly make him that much more productive in kindergarten. Cutting the program would be taking a step backwards in the future of our children's education.

Amy Soppe,

E. Anne Larson,
While I understand that finances are extremely tight at the state level, please understand that the opportunity for education begins with training children to be learners. We will feel untoward consequences if we miss this generation!

Carol Beier,
I feel preschool is so important to a child's learning. It is the foundation that everything else is built upon. Preschool is the new kindergarten. Kindergarten is the old 1st grade. Please keep universal preschool so all children can be on the same level when they go to kindergarten.

Angie Cross,

Bobbie Steuer,

Jerry Avise-Rouse,

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This program is wonderful. I think it is vital and beneficial to everyone. It should be open to anyone regardless of income. People should not be punished for making to much money.

Josyndia Simon,

Jennifer Kloster,

Jami Guillory,

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Stephen Toothman,
This is perhaps the worst example of cutting off your nose to spite your face, that I have seen come out of the legislature in a long time. Do not sell Iowa children short. We need more money for education not less.

Lisa A. Ludwig,

Mandy Fugate,

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Please support Iowa’s high quality preschool initiative for 20,000 Iowa four year olds. Research proves preschool helps raise student achievement while saving taxpayers money in the long run.

Liz Weber,
What greater opportunity to change the world for the better than to educate our youngest most precious citizens?

Kirsten Weidemann,

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Deb Hayes,

Gina Lee,
I currently teach kindergarten in a at-risk building. I have seen the benefits of pre-school first-hand in my classroom. Children come to kindergarten more confident,prepared and with the necessary skills to be successful in all academic areas. I support pre-school and feel that it's high quality initiative supports student achievement. We need to continue to raise awareness and provide all students with the necessary education to be effective learners. It all starts with a productive preschool program.

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I believe cutting out preschool would be a very costly mistake down the road. The ones that will suffer will be those children whose parents cannot or will not pay for it.

Jennifer Rubly,

Jerry Conner,

Molly Weber,

Nicole Kimm,

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Please save 4 year old preschool. All children deserve the funding as well as qualified and certified teachers. My son is counting on you!

Heidi Belzer,
I've seen firsthand the difference that a quality preschool program makes in the lives of children and their families. Our youngest learners need this program.

Julia White,

Sara Swanson,

Emily Younke,

William Miller,

Katie Ghent,
Preschoolers are our future!
Just because parents have a certain income, doesn't mean they feel that they can afford the cost of preschool. Not all parents see preschool as a priority, especially if they have to pay for it. Our state can not afford to deny these young children the experiences that good preschools provide. We need to continue to require our preschool teachers to be licensed and certified to ensure high standards for our preschools.

Kelli Splinter,

Lori Johnson,

Camille Lee,

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Ashley Hautt,
This is crazy! Our future is in the hands of our children. Brandstad is taking away opportunities and education from our foundation. He is loosing my vote for next election!

Dr. Danuta Hutchins,

Linda Andersen,

mary moline,
iowa's eduation will take a step backwards if this bill passes

David W Frederick,
Its time that the taxpayers be heard by are representatives on how and what WE want to pay taxes on. so how about cutting there pay instead.

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Don't let Branstad destroy the Iowa educational system for a 2nd time!

Chad LaRue,
incredible that anyone would believe that cutting funding to educate children is a good idea. Yep! typical republican idea, break the unions and keep the people uneducated. Invest in the future of Iowa. Make Iowa the education leaders of the world.

Amanda Pearson,

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Please save the preschool initiative. It is critical to the success of our young children who are not receiving readiness skills at home. In the long run it helps everyone!

Barb Flammang,

Tara Goedert,

Shellie Kamaus,

Michael White,

Brian Cutsforth,

Jessica DuBois,

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kris moore,
The special needs costs that will be added because of this will be staggering. Iowa used to put the highest value on Education. What happened?

Renee Meyer,
Please do not make this cut on the back of education. The only way to have a healthy economy and pride in where we live is how well we educate our young. Everyone has been talking about passing on debt to our grandchildren, this is the worse kind of debt to our children, taking away the tools to excell. If we truly care about our young and education, invest in it, do not cut it.

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I understand the cuts that Gov. Terry Branstad is trying to implement and it greatly disappoints me, and many other young professionals trying to raise our families in Iowa. In the state of Iowa, we pride ourselves in our education system. I am proud when I say that I was born and raised in Iowa, went to school here and am choosing to STAY here and send my children through the education system, including the early childhood area. You think the aging demographic of Iowa is an issue now? Cut great programs like these and you will be saying goodbye to many young professionals and their growing families. There are better paying jobs and more opportunities in other states, but many are drawn to remaining in Iowa because it is a great place to raise and educate our families...start taking those benefits away, and you throw away what is most attractive for us to stay. You take away benefits that make living and raising a family in Iowa affordable for us.

If Gov. Branstad is willing to make theses changes, he is going to have a very sad reality when he sees what he has caused within our system. The colleges will be effected because if you are not running quality preschools with certified teachers, there will be no need for early childhood degrees. The state economy will be effected because teachers will be looking for jobs elsewhere, due to preschools not being able to pay them enough for their credentials. Where will all these teachers go? What will all these teachers do? They will leave Iowa and help another state thrive. The schools and education system will suffer because children will be going ill-prepared if they are coming from non-qualified preschools.

To make the funding cuts that Gov. Branstad is discussing..is absolutely unfathomable. My question to him would be, would you go to a doctor without a degree, education and license in medicine? Would you go to lawyer without any license, experience or education? Would you spend more money on new shoes than a child's future? In my thoughts, that's what he is doing..spending money on stuff that will be able to survive without funding...but disabling the successful future of a child starting out in the right direction, creating a dead end that will leave children, parents and educators road blocked and scrambling for an alternative.

Concerned Parent,

Jennifer Hogrefe,
I am a parent of a child who was in this program. Not only did it help improve his academics but also his social behavior. Certified teachers are a must! I am also a first grade teacher who sees daily the difference in the children who went to preschool and those who did not. They are much more prepared for the rigors of what first grade looks like in the 21st century!

Amanda Wessels,

Tiffany Block,
As a teacher myself, I know how important it is for children to receive education from a certified teacher! Kindergarten is very different now than it was 20 years ago. Kindergarten are expected to be reading by the end of Kindergarten, not just lining up quietly. Please consider keeping the requirement of having certified teachers teach at the pre-K level.

Jeremey Block,

Carole A. Siegworth,
Just seeing what pre-school did for my grandchildren, I can't imagine not having it available to everyone.

mike tickal,
Preparing children for the future is not stupid.

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Please don't take this educational opportunity away from these children. It is not a child's fault that their parents may not be able to fit yet another expense into their family budget.

Heather Picray,

Donna Duehr,
Governor Branstad has stated you do not need CERTIFIED TEACHERS to teach preschool, does he understand the daycares will hire teenagers with no training to work with these children (as they did prior to the statewide program) and call them teachers? This is a slam to every STATE LICENSED - CERTIFIED EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER!!! Maybe we don't need certified teachers to teach dropout potential kids either...Governor Branstad needs to get out of the stone ages and realize the world is changing and preschool years are when children are so willing to learn. If they have a positive, worthwhile Preschool experience, possibly we won't need DROPOUT PREVENTION classes and kids will want to stay in school and become productive citizens...

Lindsey Blok,

Kari Doudna-Splinter,

Melinda Bryan,
My son will be in a four-year-old preschool program next year, assuming they still exist. While I appreciate the private optional three-year-old preschool that he attends now, I want him to have additional experience in the K-12 school district he will attend. I also cannot imagine that he would learn as much without an endorsed teacher. As an educator, I can tell you that there are too many differences between a teacher prep program and a bachelors program in general. I want my child taught by a quality instructor.

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Tiffany Cue,

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the children of our State should be our first priority, and education should be at the top of the list. We need to be adding funds, not eliminating them.

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Sta ey Wachter,
All studies prove that early education is essential in life long learning. If we do not want to perpetuate the cycle of poverty, let's give the low income kids the same opportunity that wealthy children enjoy. Please stop this craziness and continue the preschool program initiated by Gov Culver!

Vanessa Naber,
Our children deserve to have pre-school teachers who are licensed! Don't disadvantage Iowa Children by decreasing the quality of pre-school programs!

Jason Ellingson,
Preschool is an investment that ultimately saves dollars by reducing special education, at-risk, and dropout costs.

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Deborah Adams,

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Emily Miller,

Julie Sisco,

Amanda Bibb,

Eric Norman,
The free 4 year pre-school is crucial in our State moving forward as a leader!

Kristina L. Herr,

Mike Herr,

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As a literacy specialist, elementary teacher, and, specifically, a Reading Recovery teacher, I am so concerned about the cuts to preschool. I have heard the comments being made, "Is that the role of the government to provide preschool? Shouldn't the parent step up and take on the role of doing those early literacy activities (not to mention learning important beginning social skills)? In an ideal world, that would be the case. However, the reality we are dealing with is that, for whatever reason (ex. single parent who has to take on two jobs to make ends meet or, simply, a parent who just does not value the importance of those early experiences), the parent is NOT always taking on that role. By eliminating free preschool, we are simply widening the gap, once again. Those who can afford it, and know how to access it, will likely be able to pay for their child's preschool. Those who can't, will not. So......those students start their schooling experience already at a disadvantage. My position is not one of who should be taking on the role of providing preschool. My position....my concern.....stems from a need to advocate for these children who will be missing out.

Ambrosia Nelson,
My oldest was able to partake in the free 4 year old program and I would love for my youngest to be able to as well.

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Preschool is a fundamental resource for the children of our future. Taking away the opportunity for the middle class to have tuition options available to them as well, not just for lower income class, will only hurt the education system and the children to be progressively equip with the skills and training they will need for K-12 grades, which will hurt them in the workforce after completing schooling. This would be a unfortunate spiral effect for all our futures!

Deb Rogers,

Laura Virtue,

Daniel Ingle,
do what ever it takes to keep our programs for our preschoolers in place especially with a Governor that takes a double salary from the state of Iowa. it appears as his only interest is in himself and the corporations he has backing him.

Tonya Ahlers,

Jane Boffeli,

Jeanette Mausser,

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Invest in OUR future - OUR children

Teri Schloss,
My child wouldn't have gone to preschool without the funding given to four year old children last year. Don't make the mistake of forgetting about our youngest citizens and not giving them the best educational start we can.

Tess Williams,
Representing the state of Iowa, you are our voice and should take the cares and concerns of the Iowa residents whole-heartedly. It is your job to carry out the wishes of the residents of this state. I am petitioning that you stop cutting education! It is embarresing how other countries are so far advaced in this world versus the U.S. Educational support should be a PRIORITY in this country and less should be taken away and more given to support education - at all levels. I write today as both a parent of a soon-to-be 4 year-old, and as an educator.
Please support this preshcool petition and carry out the desires of the Iowa residents who are for education and our youth.

Joel Dinger,
All children in Iowa deserve a quality education, and it should start in preschool. We can't afford NOT to.

Jayme Beyer,

Charles Carnes,

Tracy Smith,

Nancy L. Welu,
I have been in early childhood education for 42 years and it has been only with the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Grant that I have witnessed the growth in the quality of preschool programs and the professionalism of teachers who work in these programs. It will be such a huge step backwards to abolish this system.

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cheri barnhart,
I strongly disagree with this proposal. Preschool has been a vital need for a long time. Let's not go backwards.

Megan Crawford,

Sean Neilly,
Under no circumstances should the governor be cutting corporate taxes and removing preschool.

Janine Capesius,
The state of Iowa had a great program with offering free PreK program for four year olds. Getting rid of this program only hurts the students who really need the early intervention. There are so many students who need help and come from homes that don't enforce education, the sooner the school system can help these students this will benefit the state of Iowa in the long run. I have worked as a paraprofessional for 17 years and the era of students coming to the elemetary school have changed greatly. Most of the students come from broken homes and have a unstable home life and school is the only safe place they have. PLEASE think of the children first instead of the cost. These students are the future of Iowa and will become adults someday.

Education of Iowa is IMPORTANT!!!!
Janine Capesius

Peggy Ross,
It's foolish to risk our state's future by stinting on education for our youngest citizens. The few dollars pulled from the budget are not worth the cost to Iowa's future prosperity.

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I guess the governor has never been hard up or laid off, as I have a daughter with 2 small children and married, husband laid off and she is a pre school teacher and loves it. She needs her job as there are no jobs in IA. So why it the governor picking on them when there are alot of giveme programs that could be cut. Let me have that job for a day.
Thanks

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Nicole Jensen,
As a Preschool Initiative teacher and young citizen of the state of Iowa, I strongly oppose the removal of a successful and necessary program. The Money being put into the initiative should be looked at as investment that will save the government seven times that amount in future costs.

Jeffrey Wiersema,

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I feel that preschool prepares today's students for social and academic readiness in today's society. Preschool provides students opportunities to socialize and be able to function in a structured environment prior to core academic instruction. This is part of a foundational education to prepare our student sfor success. Iowa schools begin identifying at-risk students at the kindergarten level, it is in my opinion, more students will join the at-risk category without preschool options for families, especially who qualify as low SES. Please care enough about Iowa's children and consider funding Iowa's preschool programs. Teachers are responsible for complying with the No Child Left Behind law, what about No Preschooler Left Behind?

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brastad is up to his old tricks, we can't let him get away with it. our kids need a good start for education.

Jim Heinz,

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I have seen preschools which charged a large sum, and since they weren't regulated, didn't deliver on the service. Some are allowed to just play and not learn, calling it preschool and some actually have the instruction of preschool. Some communities do not have the option of preschool if a private sector does not offer it in their home. If they were regulated all preschool children will enter into kindergarten with the same background giving children an equal footing.
Thank you.

Susan M. Sumstine,
I have always believed that by living in Iowa, and paying Iowa's higher taxes and now pension taxes, that it was worth it due to our educational system. Shame on anyone wanting to delute or disable any portion of our educational road map to success for our young people. Education was the top reason I have lived in Iowa since 1973 and the only reason that I haven't moved.

Tracey Snyder,
I currently pay for preschool but believe there should be free preschool through the public schools. There are too many families who would have to make a choice of either putting food on the table or sending their child to school especially in today's economy. While there are free/reduced options, these will NOT benefit those who may have had a job loss and still trying to get themselves out of the debt rut it caused. It is going to affect our children and our own futures. You want better test scores for Iowa? Keep the preschools!!

Gerry Rowland,
This important program deserves full funding

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You can't put a price on education. I understand that you are entiltled to your retiremnet pension, but you did state while running for office you would stop recieveing it "the pension" if you were elcted. If you refuse to do that at least ask the state to lower your salary as governor. The buck starts with you and not the children and their education.

Molli Jacobsen,

Rachel Hurley,

Jason Gearhart,

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Amy O\'Rourke,
My son will be entering the 4 year old program this fall. This is a crucial step in children's development. To stop the funding for families in need is a huge mistake.

Stefanie Robinson,
I am very disturbed by this cut.

"Children who attend high-quality preschool enter kindergarten with better pre-reading skills, richer vocabularies, and stronger basic math skills than those who do not," says National Institute for Early Education Research director W. Steven Barnett, PhD.
It is not wise to discontinue requiring certified teachers at this very important stage of development in a child's life!

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What is our government for if not to allow all our people, young and old, to have an equal opportunity to succeed in life.
By ignoring what has been WANTED by the constituents of this state, you folks will be well remembered at election time.
This strategy is an attack on the security of our nation. Check the latest eductional testing for the world. Is the USA on top? Hardly. It is EVERY governor's job to help "grow" the next generation, not to dismantle what has been established.

Liz Cotter Schlax,

Dr. Larie D. Godinez,
SAVE our kids! Please support voluntary 4 year old preschool program for all of Iowa's children

Joyce Schoulte,
If the Governor wants a world-class education system (as I think I heard before the election), cutting pre-school makes no sense. This is where it all starts! Even his friends in big business agree that pre-school is a good idea and helps to draw good workers to the state.

James Christensen,

Jodi Kurimski,
Preschool is the first stepping stone in a child's education, it helps our children grow socially, academically and independently. It would be a detriment to our state, our job market and our future leaders if your proposal is initated. Please reconsider your proposal and keep Iowa's state-funded preschool available to all families and maintain the requirement of licensed and certified teachers!

Daniel Kucera,

Karen Nichols,
In our district, the two preschools most likely to be shut down are in areas that represent the greatest need. To defund these preschools shocks the conscious.

Kriss Wells,

AnnMarie Rohner,
4 year old preschool really comes down to a choice: a choice to be proactive or reactive. We can be proactive by supporting our young learners and ensuring that they are entering school ready to learn or reactive by spending many more dollars later on through additional resources and services. Some might see preschool as an expense; others are wise enough to know it is a solid investment.

Stephanie Brennan,

Ashley Schmitt,

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Bonnie O\'Brien,
Please save our children. Early education and intervention prevents the building and over population of jails later on!!!

Eugene J Jensen,

Leann Halbur,

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I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride

Valerie Larew,

Kristi Law,

Karen Geuder,

Trish Tigges,
I support preschool in our state, I am a parent and an educator that sees the benefits of the SWVPP. Please join me and other citizens in asking for this program to remain funded.

Isabelle Holland,

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Bill & Barb Ketelaar,

John foster,
Young children need certified educators as teachers.

Every child needs preschool.

Jay Kirman,

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Eliminating preschool funding is certainly not pro-education, and certainly will not create any of those 200,000 jobs Branstad based his campaign on. This is a terrific example of typical Republican hypocrisy.

Megan Harris,

Jesi Duve,

Lori Zihlman Vantiger,
Preschool is not a luxury. It is our responsibility as educators and policy makers. If our state wants to declare superior education systems then this is NOT a place to make budget cuts. It is also offensive for lawmakers to turn their noses up at an early childhood degree!! Early childhood specialists are the best teachers for the young. Don't tell me that anyone with a BA can teach 4 and 5 year-olds! Let's give education and teachers some credit, praise, acknowledgement and a significant pay raise!!! As a former educator and parent of three young children, I can honestly say...they deserve it!! Let's make the right decisions, Iowa, for our children and our future!!!

Cindy Paintner,
We would not have been able to afford sending out 4 year old to pre-kindergarten without the grant for preschool. Cutting the funding to this program, when the research shows the importance of it in the education of our children, is wrong. To take away from children but give a break on corporate taxes is not right.

jackie christerson,

John Cook,
A high quality preschool program should be taught by certified teachers.

Short-changing Iowa's 4-years olds to provide corporate tax breaks will add no jobs in the short run. In the long run it will make Iowa less attractive as a place to live or start a business.

Nicholette Mausser,

Pat Winters,
Investing in high quality universal preschool is the best investment we can make in our future (through the future of our children). Study after study have shown the value of good pre-school education.

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Lawrence Bartlett,
Iowa' future is and always has been in quality education. As a worker in the space race of the early sixties Iowa' well educated workforce played an pivetol roll in the U.S. meeting the goals set to put man in orbit and on the moon. Preschool education is the forward look for all and the solution to our future. Do not scrap the preschool program for all preschoolers in iowa

James P. Shimon,
Not only should we continue to make education, through pre-school, a cornerstone for our state, we should also carefully guard the division of religion and politics, and not allow scholarships for preschool to go to parochial schools, or private schools hiding a parochial agenda. Once we start this, the separation of church and state becomes a cloudy issue for every other aspect as well.

Bev Creps,

Karen Hoaglan,

Patrick Harnish,
Preschool is necessary with being prepared for todays education.

Amanda Kuhlman,
I have a preschool program in the daycare that I work at and I see the wonders it does for the children that it serves and I would like to keep it. I also think that all the preschool teachers should be state certified as well.I also think that you that is the governor should not change the current plan that was installed by Governor Culver. Branstand doesn't care about the future of the children of Iowa all he wants to do is cut everything that Culver started. Culver has young kids and he wanted all the kids in Iowa to get an education. Also it gives the parents a chance to work while their kids are getting an education. If you cut down to ten hours a week who is going to watch the children when they aren't in preschool because the parent's can't leave work to get their children out of preschool they could lose their jobs over it. Also I agree that the rural areas of this state would be hit the hardest as well. They are putting up two more preschool rooms in my Elemntary school back home so they can have more room for all the preschool children that are coming in and what are they going to do with all the kids and the rooms if Branstand cuts them down.

Kelley Cheesman,

Melissa Gullion,
As a Kindergarten teacher, I cannot overstate the importance of having quality preschool programs available to Iowa's 4 year olds! As we increase the rigor in academics, these children need this readiness experience to develop confidence and prepare them for what lies ahead.

Jennifer Keith,

Mary Klauke Abbas,

Susan J Pendarvis,
Quality education must be provided for all of our children! Without qualified & certified teachers to educate our children we have babysitters! Our economy will not improve without well educated people.

Paul Henely,

Mary Stark,

Jill McCleary,
I loved having a program in our communities that made ALL children EQUAL.

Brian Price,
As an educator, I see the effects everyday of students who enter school not ready to learn. My son is attending an accredited preschool in Davenport with high quality teachers and a wonderful age appropriate curriculum. Many of the students his preschool serves would not be able to attend this fine institution if not for the assistance provided by the state of Iowa. Please continue to fund early childhood education, the investment you make today in Iowa's future will repay itself ten-fold in the years to come.

Kris Bowers,
I am a Head Start Pre School teacher. It is unmeasurable the value Pre School has in a child's life. Not only for the educational gains, but for social/emotional growth as well (which has fairly recently been proven to be very necessary). Does Terry Branstad still collect his pension as well as a salary as govenor?? Surely this can't be. I certainly think that there can be cuts made else where instead of directly taking away from the future of our state!!

Meredith Henry,
As a preschool teacher for Head Start in Cedar Rapids, I do not want to see funding cut. This program is very important for the families we serve.

Amy Goddard,

Katie Furlong,

Dan Furlong,

Amy Knockel,

DezeRae Horstman,

Sue Serbousek,
Please do not let the funding drop for preschool. You will be depriving preschool children of lower and middle income families the opportunity to give their children high quality preschool.

Melanie Reese,

Gretchen Muhlenbruck,

Jeffrey Simpson,

Kaye Eisele,

Kelli L. Splinter,
I am a preschool teacher and parent of three young children. I have seen first hand, through my job and in with my own children, the benefits of quality preschool, taught by certified teachers. I would not trust a non-certified doctor to perform surgery and won't trust a non-certified teacher to teach my children. This much needed program teaches children the skills they need to be successful in kindergarten and beyond. Cutting this valuable program will lower the quality of preschool programs statewide and in the long run will hurt our education system.

Lisa Porter,

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This is very important to our children's educational future. Please do not let the governor do this to our children. They all need this important part of their education.

Ashley Bennett,

Anne Loomis,
We must maintain an educated workforce if we are to remain competitive in the world economy. Putting up roadblocks to education hurts not just the individual families and children who can't afford the preschool, it hurts us all by damaging our available workforce. One reason employers choose to locate in Iowa is our workforce - educated and with a positive work ethic. In this economy especially, education is the key.

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Rachel Shaffer,

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Hans Revaux,

Jennifer Olson,

Corey Grafton,
This is needed to help ia move forward in childrens education. lets not move backwards. These kids are our future lets spend the money.

Andy Woodrick,
Please do not do away with such an important program!

John Ralls,

Audrey Cumming,

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Kathlynn Price,
As a mother of a preschooler, I strongly believe that quality preschool is necessary for children to be ready to start kindergarten. I also teach high school and see on a daily basis the effects on students who did not have access to quality pre-K programs. It is important that all children have an opportunity to get the best start in their education. Please do not end the state's current preschool funding. The effects will be detrimental to the youth of today and tomorrow. These children are the future. Please invest in them.

Michelle Hartmann,

Mary A Mccleary,

Susan Nelson,
Kids deserve the best opportunities we can give them to become productive citizens. The Governor's attack on children is short-sighted and will hurt the state in the long run. He should pay less attention to what the Koch Brothers want and more to doing the right thing for Iowans.

Jennifer Cottrell,

DEoreen Rick,

Ashley Yuska,

Kevin Zimple,

Laurie Wernli,
Please support the Iowa preschool initiative and the Shared Visions preschool program.

Scott Kurimski,

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I think this program should con't.. All 4 year olds need this program, it has helped my 4 year old in so many ways. I dont believe it's fair that middle class have to pay for lower income people either...

Stacey Lesher,
We are seeing more and more behavior and educational needs at such a young age! So why do we think we need to cut QUALITY preschool?! I am in my second year of teaching preschool and just can't imagine what these kiddos will do without it!!!

Christine Shope,

Julie Streblow,
I teach Kindergarten and believe it would be a huge mistake to reduce the opportunity for children to attend preschool, as well as taking away the requirement for a person to need a teaching license in order to teach preschool. It makes an unbelievably HUGE difference in their skills, abilities, and preparedness for school, learning, and life!

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Guillermo M Tieso III,

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Wendy,

Florence and William Boos,
Preschool is crucial for these children's future--and for ours. A penny saved is a dollar wasted, in this case. "Whatsoever ye do unto the least of these little ones, . . . "

Scott Huntbatch,

Kerre Bell,

Francie Solmonson,

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Everyone needs to have access to this. This is one of the best ways to prepare our children for the future.

Chris Rogers,
I went to pre-school and i am successful...nufff said

Amanda Pross,
It is vital to start children early for school. There is so much expected in children during Kindergarden so getting a step up early and getting exposure through preschool is so important.

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Sarah Anderson,

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Katie Jaehrling,

Sarah Shepherd,
It is so important for us to give our children every opportunity for a solid beginning to their educations.

John Edgington,
Do the right thing for the kids.

Scott McCallum,

Stacey Anderson,
My daughter, Alyssa, has had a wonderful experience this year. Since we (the parents) both don't have flexible jobs, we won't have had transportation to get her to preschool. Since public preschool has this option, we were able to give her a preschool experience.

Katie Giorgio,
Please keep the fully funded preschool program. This is for our children and the future of our state! I am proud that Iowa values education and invests in my children and all the children of our state at such an early age. And the educators that provide wonderful learning environments for our preschoolers deserve the recognition and support from the State of Iowa.

Craig Holstegge,

Gerald Hidy,
Did the Gov. receive his education from teachers with GED's????

Mark Nieman,

Kathe and Gary Goldstein,
Let's not cut our preschoolers short. They need a quality program for a good start. Let's believe that they ARE the future, and treat them as such buy giving them quality program with certified teachers.

Karla Goettel,
I am also extremely concerned about Brandstad's proposal that anyone with a Bachelor's degree may teach preschool. I believe that an early childhood degree is important for two reasons: One, the development of the young brain requires specialized teaching and two, I fear that the fundamentalist churches will begin their own preschools that will perpetuate creationist thinking, intolerant attitudes and be entirely religiously based, neglecting important areas of early childhood education. I think any preschool bill should include the provision that only qualified teachers with training in early childhood should be eligible to teach preschool.

Marj Lappe,

Linda Robbins,
Our children are our future. The United States is already behind the world in many areas of education. The initiative that the Governor is proposing will put the state of Iowa farther behind the rest of the country. The state of Iowa and the country will pay for this in the future.

We also need certified teachers teaching PreK.

Elizabeth Breinich,

Annette Breier,
I am afraid this is only one of many issues that "our" govenor will change for the worse for our state.

Kathy Kiernan,

Don Shedd,
A wise investment for our future. America (and Iowa) didn't become what it is from coddling the wealthy, and balancing budgets on the backs of the middle class and the poor.

Carson Fixmer,
Funding Iowa preschool program is an investment in OUR future. Oscar Wilde said that some people, "know the price of everything, and the value of nothing." Our new governor and his cohorts are members of that group. The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 - 1945)

Christine Sturgeon,

Tom Vantiger,
Iowa, let's invest in our future...our children.

Annalisa Miller,
An investment in educating Iowa's children is an investment in Iowa's future. Maybe some of the millions of dollars that the State of Iowa PAYS to large corporations would be better used to educate it's future citizens!

Jan Nelson,

Kyle Barr,
As the parent of a child who is registered for preschool this coming fall, this is an issue which hits close to home for my family. If the statewide voluntary preschool grant is taken away, thousands of middle and lower class families will be financially unable to provide high quality preschool education for their children. I do not believe that it is right to balance our state budget at the cost of the education of Iowa's children. The preschool program helps Iowa remain a leader in providing the highest quality educational opportunities to even its youngest citizens. As a parent and a citizen of Iowa, I call upon my representatives to do the right thing and save this valuable program.

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Shawn russell,
I have taught kindergarten for 22 years and realize first hand all the tremendous benefits of preschool for all socioeconomic classes.

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Preschool is a vital part of early education for these young children.They deserve the chance to start their learning process early.

Sheryl Price,
As a past Head Start teacher in Iowa and now in Minnesota I disgree with Goverenor Branstad's plan to cut funding for preschool education. Think wbout where our society will be in the future if all kids are not given the same opportunity from the beginning. Not all families are capaple of affordable education. We know statistically that early childhood education is extremely important to future success. Let educate our young and not set them up for failure and to be a statistic later on.

Amanda Sigler,
As a mother and an early childhood speech therapist, I know first hand of the absolute importance of a preschool education. Our children's futures are not the place to be cutting right now. Preschool must be available to all families. I fear if this program is cut, many middle class families who are already struggling to make ends meet, will not send their students because they just won't be able to afford it. Please do not cut this program. Early childhood programs enrich student's lives and set a foundation for continued success in school. Thank you.

Carmen Tickal,
Iowa needs to be #1 in education again. This is a good start.

Steve Wikert,
http://wcfcourier.com/news/opinion/guest_column/article_5807eddc-3ab9-11e0-86df-001cc4c002e0.html

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Why are we cutting programs that hurt Iowa's future when we have a budget surplus? There is really something wrong with this picture. This is the last place we should be cutting spending.

Carol Patzner,
I have 4 children. Two older, one that is in preschool now, and one that will be next year. I am so pleased with the quality of the preschool and hope our state does not let it go back to "glorified daycare".

Darci Norwood,

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Changing the current pre-school program is a poor way to economize. Certified teachers are essential for a quality program.

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Removing required certification for pre-k teachers only will move us farther behind the rest of the world in terms of education. We are already falling behind.

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As a preschool paraeducator, I work with special needs students. Without the certified teachers, and the special education teachers, where does this leave those children that need extended hours.

Kim Brimm,
Preschool is too important to cut.

Tiffany Skaggs,

Emily Stelling,

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Marissa Olson,

Daniel Wohlers,

Cindy Steichen,
These kids are our future!!! We need to arm them with the early skills needed for the future.

David Freed,

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Jilann Van Cleave,

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please do not take away preschool,, these are the building years for these young minds and our future, keep them learning.

Lisa Lang,

Theresa Van Eldik,
I not only work with the preschool program but my also has also attended preschool. He was born with some health concerns and had some delays. Without the preschool program he never would have been ready for kindergarten.

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Wade Stahr,
Common Sense says keep it- Does our Gov. have common sense?? Yet to be seen

Sally Marquart,

Laura Noonan,

Brittney Clinton,

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Preschool helps our children to be prepared for Kindergarten. My 4-year-old daughter is ready for school and very excited to attend school this Fall with her big sister. Our children need this program. Our rural communities will suffer greatly if this program is cut. Schools and education should be our priority! We need to keep certified preschool teachers to provide the best for our children. Why hurt our educational system more?!

Laura Noyes Engel,

Ashley Ann McGraw,

Heather Gardner,

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Jen Norvell,

Sara Grulke,

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I am a Grandmother of 7 and 4 of them have gone through the 4 year old program. It would be very beneficial for the other 3 to go to learn and to play with other children. If the program is taken away, one of them won't be able to go because her family falls in the middle. They wouldn't have money to send her. They can maintain living but don't have any extra to send her. I'm sure she is one of many. Cutting expenses through the children is not the way to go. Third world children are being taught better than in the US. What else lies ahead?

Julie Rouse,
Please support our children and their academic success. As a school counselor, I see the significant edge preschool provides our students as readers, communicators, and friends. Certified teachers guarantee a quality program where all students are provided the skills they need.

Pamela Jobgen,

Sheryl Monson,
Early childhood is the most important time in a persons life. Children learn more in the first five years of life than any other time. Taking away any early child programs is a diservice to all Iowa children. I have been a daycare provider for over 25 years and what children need to know before kindergarten has changed alot preschool is not a place to learn to get along with other children it is a neccesity for advancing to kindergarten.

Kelly Hemmer,

Karen Ott,
Early education is a must in today's world. And, we need to focus on the fact that the quality and cost of education has everything to do with not only where people live, but where businesses locate. Iowa has always be known for its quality education - recent cuts have started to change that. Cutting the free preschool will definitely impact that.

Nicole Stoutner,
These kids are our future! They deserve the best. We started this great program, let's keep it going!

Julie R. Ambroson,
Preschool is necessary for all children to be successful in school. Removing the obligation to use licensed preschool teachers will make it look like preschools do not do their job. They can not properly educate young children with out educated instructors. We would not consider allowing elementary age children to be taught by unlicensed teachers and should not consider it for young children.

Julie Hemmer,

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Jennifer Nelson,

Lisa Petersen,

Dana Mcdole,
This is an important program that should not be taken away. Kids need positive programs to enhance their education.

Mike Hemmer,

Minelia Esparza,
If the preschool program cannot continue then, I will be forced to drop out of school. I am current pursing a B.A. degree in education. I have to small children ages 3 and 5 who attend Head Start and Early Head Start. If they cannot continue to attend school then I will be forced to quit school.

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I am a preschool Intiative teacher for this state program. I can't afford to lose my job. Middle class family that needs my job. Done things right in life, went to college to have a better life. Don't depend on government to live because the series of good choices through out my life. And most importantly preschool is a great thing for kids to get them ready for the high standards of kindergarten readiness these days. Private preschool alone is very expensive. Families need help to be able to support it.

Adriane Carlson,
Please continue to support statewide voluntary preschool for 4 year olds. It is so important to get all children off on the right foot in education. Removing the support of this program would decrease the number of children who access preschool and the number one reason is due to cost. Manay families will not qualify under the governor's plan, but still cna not afford preschool. Families already ahve to choose between medical expenses and groceries, should we add their child's education to the mix? Support statewide preschool for ALL 4 year olds.

Barbara Linden,
As a mother, grandmother and great grandmother I am deeply aware of the merits of preschool for every child to prepare them for the challenges of school. Let's not cut programs that target the very section of our population that need aid the most. Do not lower taxes and then turn around and cut the most important budgets. Only the wealthy benefit from these tactics.

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Tonya Ulven,

Hope Shreve,

Lynne Himmelreich,

Erica McGowan,
Please do NOT end the preschool program for Iowa's 4 year olds. I can not understand why as a state we would ever want to step backwards. Education is what this state and country needs to compete globally and it begins at preschool with QUALIFIED teachers. As a new parent, I want the best for my son. I pray that the preschool initiative continues so every little boy and girl is given a chance for success. Our future depends on it.

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Marcia Mattison,

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Donna lucas,
I feel it is important to give all children the benefit of preschool. I do not think it should be based on need and/or income.

Lori Reynolds,

susan Johnson,
If Iowa is to remain a leader in education, pre school education is a must. Let's get our priorities back!

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Meghan Foster,

Angela Solsma,

Amy Schell,

Amanda Minser,
We need preschool!! Earlier the education, the better!!

Rene\' Conkling,
Please do not cut funding for our youngest learners. The state preschool program has made early childhood education available to more families, the families that do not qualify for the Head Start program, yet are unable to afford private preschool. In addition, the change to uncertified or undegreed early child educators would greatly impact quality; is the plan to pull people of off the street and stick them in a classroom with a bunch of 4 year olds?? This is not a babysitting service, there is a lot that goes into early childhood education. It saddens me that this nation used to be top in education and it is disgraceful that education does not seem to be a priority to the legislators who think that it is a good idea to cut funding to any sector of our education system. It will only to put us further behind other countries.

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Ruth Duritsa,
The most important thing we can do for Iowa is to educate the children. Please make this a priority.

Jan Sneller,

Jesse Sneller,
Why fix something that isn't broken?

Janet McLaren,
I ask that you consider the future of the children of Iowa. I have 5 grandchildren at this time and 2 of them were fortunate enough to benefit from the 4 year old pre-school program, I hope that the other 3 will have that same opportunity. We need to invest in our children for the future..it is a wonderful program..why cut something that works?

Melissa Westhoff,

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divinity o\'connor-roberts,

Jennifer Long,

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As a preschool teacher and mother of a 3 year old, I know that our kids need this to get a better start in this crazy competitive world.

Jana Woodruff,

Devon Gilliland-Minard,

Craig Reindl,
Education is the greatest investment in our future. Raise the bar and don't accept anything less than an honest effort.

Cynthia Ramer,

Kimberly Oyen,

Erik Coffey,

Jeff Nielsen,

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Zane Thompson,

Kathy Burchett,

June Burns,
I am willing to invest in our children's education from preschool on up. Stop the cuts to education. And I mean ALL education!!!!

Angel Lemke,

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Josh Rolling,

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Bridget Godwin,
ALL of Iowa's children deserve the opportunity to attend preschool. I believe many middle class children will not be given the preschool experience, if a fee is imposed. As a transitional kindergarten teacher, I see how an amazing foundation is built upon the preschool year(s). As a middle class mother, I see the how an additional fee may deter a preschool encounter for a child. I face the positive impact preschool has on children daily, it's my job. I'll pay the fee. Do all parents see that impact? If not, do you think they'll find a place in their budget for the fee? Of course not.
Show Iowans that you care. Make the right choice.

Cynthia Hamilton,

ann sandahl,

scott kirkhart,

Kim Curl,
Our young children need the opportunity to interact with other children in order to learn social skills. They need the opportunity to "learn by play," in a structured school setting to help them develop the ability to attend to the rigors of learning later in school. They need highly qualified, certified teachers to teach them these skills. I truly hope that for these few reasons alone, our lawmakers make a positive choice for the future of our children. Continue the statewide voluntary preschool grant that provides early educational opportunities to our children.

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By cutting the funding for preschool we are taking at HUGE step backward for our children and for the future of this state. Having certified teachers is esential for our children!

Jennifer Marshall,

Miranda Peterson,

Branwyn Greathouse,

Joel Greathouse,

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There are other areas to cut....think of our children's future.

Susan M Olson,

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jackie woolery,

Gwendolyn Kellen,
I am a preschool teacher in Northwest Iowa. We have seen many of our local businesses shut their doors or lay-off individuals due to the economy. Some of those individuals that have lost their jobs or been layed off are the parents of some of my 4 yr. olds. Without this very important preschool initiative, these preschool students, I'm afraid, would not have the means to pay for preschool, if they had to.

We need to continue to invest in this very important initiative. What message are we sending if we can't even invest in our youngest citizens and provide them with the necessary skills/tools needed to become productive students and citizens? Research shows that children that experience a high-quality early childhood experience are less likely to need special education services later on in their school years.

I am urging you to please continue to support the Iowa Statewide Voluntary Preschool Initiative for our states youngest citizens. It is vital to their future! Thank you!

Jill Neas,

Amber Adamson,
I love that my girls can attend a preschool that will help them achive more in there schooling!! please keep this avaliable for future children!!!!!

Adam Godwin,
Think about the kids.

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Long time Research indicates that Preschool investment is worthwhile for students and communities in the long run. Forget about the pennies you will save here and consider the long term costs of
keeping families and individuals as wards of the state.

Ashley Lopez,

Vicki Palmer RN,
As a school nurse I have seen many children start school at kindergarten and/or preschool. The preschool students learn beginning social situation, listening to and following directions, eating with a group,walking and waiting in line and sometimes they learn that being away from Mommy and Daddy is scarry but they see them at the end of the day. Learning all this makes kindergarten a much more productive place.*****ProPreSchool***********

Rebecca Ring,

Rachel Comstock,

Leslie Dickinson,
I work as a speech-language pathologist in three Iowa school districts. I can't imagine not having preschool for our four year olds and expecting them to be prepared for kindergarten...and all the "things" that come along with the responsibility of kindergarten. It is absolutely necessary that our little people are taken care of and given the opportunity to grow and mature in a safe school environment full of love and learning. Where would our childnren be if we didn't offer this opportunity to them. It is also extremely necessary that those educating our children are licensed/certified professionals who have the knowledge and capabilities to help our preschoolers grow.

Amy Pigsley,

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Dawn Cogan,

Megan Humpal,
I am a teacher looking for a job. IF you do away with preschool you will end up having to hire more special education teachers in the long run. While I would like to become a special education teacher, I don't want to see that many students struggling

Elizabeth Bollin,
A quality education program is the cornerstone to successful democracy. Taking away the ability to pay for quality preschool teachers would be our state leaders admitting that they do NOT care about the stability of our country and the safety of our children's future.

Catherine DeLong,

Diane Crouch,
I live in Council Bluffs. I have seen first hand the power of early intervention and the impact it has on children's future academics. The governor is out of touch. There are very few children of higher income levels in our preschools. Preschools fill a need for children who need this education due to delays in development and lack of exposure of language models in their homes. Many are homeless or near homeless.

Beth Reed,
my son was born premature,and he attended preschool there is no way he be ready for kindergarden now if it wasnt for preschool our preschool is awesome here and without it i really do believe there be alot of kids missing out on a really big headstart to there school career.

Megan Kuhlmann,

Angela Pryor,

Hope Blum,
Children learn the most information at this young age and LOVE school at this time in their life. if they do not start using their brain cells they were born with, they start to lose them BEFORE age 5. I have home daycare and i can tell a difference in the children that have been in preschool. They are able to sit through story time, can play with all children, and can share and solve their own problems instead of asking the teacher to do it. I would hate to see children miss out on the great opportunity of preschool due to the funding cut. The earlier start to school the better they are in the long run.

Amanda Owens,
Please safe Iowa Preschools!

Laura Kelley,
We need to up our standard of education in this state! One look at the statistics of kids going to college and not making it through is a prime example of how important quality education is, and how important it is to start them young!

Rhonda J Leonard,
I am the care giver for my grandsons while their parents are working. While I love having my grandsons here with me all day, I know that it's important for them to be able to play with children their own age and be engaged in activities that will prepare them for kindergarten and beyond.

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Our community would not be able to offer preschool if it were not for state funding. Over half of our students qualify for free or reduced lunches and we have the highest unemployment in the state. With many disadvantaged families. we owe it to the children to provide every opportunity we can. Research has shown that students with access to preschool do better than those that do not. Do not take away this program.

Wendy McKernan,
The development of a child at age four is so important. Please invest in our future by investing in our children now!

Melissa Grimes,

Bill Chamberlain,

Christine Allmon,

Margo Luchtenburg,

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Sharon Barry,

Sue Case,

Kim Muniz,

Rhonda Weber,

Cade Cleveland,

Jill Atencio,
We are seeing more and more kindergartners coming to us with extreme needs; our amazing preschool program has certainly added in closing this gap. Please consider our children!

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Sarah Bosch,
As a preschool teacher and a parent of a preschooler I have seen first hand the BENEFITS of 4 year old attending preschool. Children are definitly better prepared and ready for Kindergarten after having the opportunity and the head start of attending preschool socially and academically.

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I can't believe that we are taking such a big step backwards in our states education. We have always prided ourselves on our progressive education system in Iowa. I am not so much against the idea of voucher system.. But what I can't understand is why would we not have certified teachers teaching!!! I don't want my state money going to pay just anyone with a BA to be able say they are a PS teacher. If we allow that how are we going to make sure that everyone is getting an equal education with the state funding?? You don't think that this is going to cause a bunch of "so called PrS to open up. Where is the regulation, if you take away the basic having a qualified teacher. I think that this being railroaded through without much thought on the consequences...But I guess that thinking comes from someone from the "OLD" school.

james walker,
in order to compete with the rest of society it is a must that are kids (Our Future) have the best start possible this shouldnt even be an issue lets use some common sense people agreed? thank you...

Ashley Utterback,
My son is currently in 4yr old preschool and I have seen so much progress in him. It is so important for them.

Mandy Zwiefel,
As a mother of three this program really helps.

Samantha Sampson,
Education success rates will drop without preschool, its what gets children ready for kindergarten... if we have no preschool. we honestly are the most dumbest state.. Our children need this...

Dana Burns,
Why is education the first place looked at for cuts; I am sure there are plenty of other options out there that can be looked at. Education for our young Iowans is the first step in saving money for the future.

Tiffany Wilson,

Jessica Meyer,

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Deanne Grantham,

Katie Grantham,

Steve VanderHelm,

Katherine R Allene,

Jamie Lane,

Chris Lane,

Staci Moore,
This is important!!

Coletta Meyer,
Children are our future and cutting this fund will decrease in a lot of Iowa's parent's in enrolling their children to preschool which is a very beneficial program. My daughter has started the 3yr program and I can not afford her to go to the 4 yr old program without this funding. I am a single parent looking for a great education for my daughter.

Teresa,
I have 2 granddaughters and 3 daughters that have used the preschool system and I am sadden to hear that their funding may be cut. Of all things to cut!! Our childrens education should priority #1!!

Molly Von Ah,
Preschool is such an important age for development and learning! Today's preschoolers are tomorrows teachers, doctors and even politicians. Without an education, none of us would be where we are today!

Doug Reed,
Cutting funding for education at ANY level in this state would be unforgivable. Regardless if you’re Republican or Democrat, anyone can see that a sound education system is the most significant investment for the future of our State and security of our economy and Nation.
I urge ALL politicians in Des Moines to start cutting WASTEFUL STATE SPENDING, duplicated efforts at STATE agencies and reduce non-essential programs before you even LOOK at cuts to ANY level of education in this state.
I would remind all our politicians in Iowa that our citizens speak loudly at the polls when you don’t listen to us – just ask some out-of-work Judges.

Megan Miller,

Amanda M. Hug,

Stephanie Schmidt,

Valerie Ballard,

Megan Zimmerman,

Colleen Havens,
Good childcare is expensive, as it should be, but not everyone can afford it. We may be middle class, but that doesn't mean it's note hard balancing childcare, bills, mortgage, etc. This is a great opportunity for ALL Iowans. Children deserve a great start!

Ashley Sieverding,

Cristie Kenkel,

Bethany Jones,
Both of my children were able to use the preschool initiative. And both are better students because of it. The teacher of the 4 year old program at our school is literally an angel. She is such an amazing person and without her and the opportunities that the preschool program gave, they would not be where they are today in school. One girl in my son's class was not able to go to preschool and her parents had to hold her back and make her retake Kindergarten this year and she is still struggling to be where the kids are that had preschool. If you take that away from 20,000 children, imagine how the kids will be in the future? Think of your kids and how they benefited from preschool and how much more it made them ready for future classes. Think smart, don't take this away from the kids.

Dana Gray,
As a registered home daycare provider and a mother there are three things I know:

1. Daycare centers and private pre-school are extremely expensive. Many families on the cusp between lower and middle class struggle to pay the fees for as little as two children. This is why many families with more than two children choose home providers.

2. Most home providers in Iowa DO try to incorporate learning activities and pre-school aged appropriate learning, however due to the diverse age groups they care for, and general care duties, we cannot dedicate a sufficient amount of time specifically to pre-school education.

3. Iowa demonstrated itself as a great leader in the nation by implementing it's public pre-school option. It's been successful and made the difference in helping thousands of children be better prepared for the education system.

I know. It helped my son who, do to the early education, his language delays were caught early and his pre-school education helped him grow. He is now in kindergarten and where he once performed below his age, with the mix of pre-school, and working with CERTIFIED teachers, we were able to work together. He is now ABOVE the standards for his age.

I am that family at the cusp. We make 50,000 a year for a family of four. We cannot afford private pre-school. We will not qualify for Branstad's "scholarship" idea. We still paid tuition for Tristan's preschool - 0 a month. It was a godsend so I hope you take us parents seriously because I would love to give my daughter the same success story for her early education.

Ellen Osborn,

Jeannie Weber,

Cindy Lechtenberg,

Jacqueline Lightcap,
Making an investment in our children is one of the best economic decisions our state can make. Let's not be short-sighted.

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Genelle Deist,
My sons have gained so much from their preschool experience, and I still have one to enter Pre-K in the fall. The last place we should cut money is on the future of our children.

Elizabeth Ray,

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Please keep quality preschools available for my nephew and his peers!

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Brady Gerdes,

Rebecca VanderHelm,

Sara E. Kuhn,
Depriving kids of basic academic preparation is setting kids up for academic failures leading to likely self-esteem and mental health problems and possible criminal behaviors later... NOT a good plan from the state with the schoolhouse on its quarter-dollar piece!

Christel Kelley,

VALERIE L PRESCOTT,
After 33+ years in Preschool education, I have observed the effects of Pushed down Academics into Kindergarten and how No Child Left Behind has made preschool necessity. Furthermore, ten hours a week is certainly an unrealistic expectation of being able to prepare a child for being prepared for a successful education!

Keith Perry,

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Joe Mowen,
Please look towards the future of our state by funding education.

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Julie Sturbaum,
I do not believe that the state support of preschool for 4 year olds should be discontinued. Early childhood is a time of great brain growth and development, and these years lay the foundation for subsequent learning. The experiences a child has in early learning can support him for the rest of his life. On December 9 and 10, 2004, Legal Momentum and the MIT Workplace Center at the Sloan School
of Management sponsored a conference, “The Economic Impacts of Child Care and Early
Education: Financing Solutions for the Future,”. At that time they stated: "Economic research—by Nobel Prize-winners and Federal Reserve economists, in economic
studies in dozens of states and counties, and in longitudinal studies spanning 40 years—demonstrate
that the return on public investment in high quality childhood education is substantial." Please do not let Iowa become a state that cuts education because it cannot see the forest for the trees. Early childhood education is important to our state and our citizens, now and in the future. Let's be a leader.

Paula Arends,

Joleen Owens,
I don't know if people fully unserstand what it means to have a certtified early childhood educator teaching preschool. A teacher with an early childhood degree uses his/her education to create reading readiness for their studnets. In preschool we do not only have then color. cut and paste, but rather we spend our days learning rythm, rhyme,sequencing, science, social studies and math! It may look different in preschool because we are moving and playing, but believe me their is A LOT of learning happening. To cut funding for a quality, first education is just ridiculous.

Cody Christianson,
Preschool has shown to enhance learning. We are the only country in the world that only is required to learn 1 language, English. The earlier we start learning the smarter we become. Growing up learning a language makes it much easier to become fluent in that language. This is just one example that proves early childhood learning is essential....We already have a balanced budget, just look at the LSA financial statement. There is no need to cut anything. Staying at current levels allows us to keep these programs without hurting our state. This needs to be more about Iowas future and not about the Republican platform for less government.

David M Johnson,
Fund All of Education like your suppose to .

Crystal Abbe,
Not only is funding crucial, but maintaining certified staff in preschool is vital in order to do what preK is intended to do, and that is to create the best possible start for ALL students. Certified teachers are able to incorporate diversity in culture, language and family background into daily experiences so that by kindergarten students have obtained some common emerging skill sets regardless off their beginning backgrounds.

Erica Male,
I am a special education preschool teacher that serves low functioning Autistic students. The 4 year old preschool program has provided inclusion opportunities for my students that has helped them grown and learn in ways that I did not see when they were in a classroom by themselves. Cutting these programs will not only hurt the 4 years olds that need these programs so that kindergarten is not frustrating for them but it will hurt the special education students that include with the 4 year olds for positive peer role models.

shirley bullock,

Aaron Faddis,

Stefanie,
My son will be in preschool next year like he was this year (due to his age) and he has learned a lot. He is able to be sociable, he now knows his colors, shapes, numbers, working on lager and fine motor skills, working on writing his name, working on jolly phonic and much more to prepare him for kindergarten. Please don't take preschool away from him or other children that have teachers with at least bachelor's degree in education, and quality environment for learning.

Jan Koch,

Annie Cleveland,

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Kelly Sangster,
There are alot of children who benefit from preschool. Preschool is beneficial not only for the children to recognize the letters of the alphabet or their name, it is also to help them to get along with others , problem solve. Most of the families we serve are low income and this gives them and their children a chance to have some structure in their life. Please think long and hard before you decide to cut preschool. it does help the child to suceed

Trisha Finley,
Our state needs to invest in a program that will enrich the minds of all of Iowa's children. A quality preschool program teaches more than just rudimentary skills. Learning how to think creatively, communicate with others, respect one another, and develop a sense of responsibility are skills preschoolers acquire and will last a lifetime. I am proud of Iowa for providing quality preschool for all children, lets not take this away.

Burdine Osborn,

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Once upon a time a good quality education was valued. Is it so wrong to get our young children off to the best start possible.

Jessica leigh Wilson,
Mother of two preschoolers

Melissa and Jeff Witt,

Beth Headington,
It's sad to think that the opportunity for all children to go to a preschool program as wonderful as the ones offered right now may be gone! I have 3 children, and the third is in his last couple months of an Early Childhood Program. It has done amazing things for all 3 of them! Don't eliminate such an amazing program. Kids are our future!!

Patricia Odey,
I recently signed my son up for Kindergarten and at the round up they asked if he'd been in preschool. I of course answered "yes at Kindercare why" They responded "you can definately tell the difference between the kids going to pre school and those who do not attend an organized pre school,he did a great job and is definately ready..." My son will be an early Kindergartener as he will only be 5 on August 16th yet he has far surpassed what my daughter was doing in her school at his age she is now 12 and struggles in school...not that it is all the pre school but the extra education helps. With out the grant it would have been impossible for my son to go to a pre school program..please save this program! God Bless you and the children who desperately need this early education.

Muzaffar Hasnain,
This program has really helped my daughter and our family to be a part of Kindercare and have her in Preschool. I feel this program should continue.

Chad Christ,
We should not sacrifice preparing our youth for Kindergarten by eliminating support of a Quality Preschool education.

Tonya O\'Neal,

Chanda McHugh,

Aaron Wagner,
"Everyone must share this financial struggle" is such an easy thing to say when YOU don't have a financial struggle that you're experiencing. Build a new prison in Ft. Madison but cut preschool funding? Seems rather fitting I suppose.

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Preschool has played a pivotal role in my daughter's preparation for kindergarten. Even as a working family, we would not have afforded the cost of preschool had it not been for this initiative.

Sarah Dixon Gale,

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I find it sad that Branstads main political goal is to limit childrens education in an already failing education system. How can we begin to turn this country around if we continue to take away from the future?

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Please continue the preschool initiative -- it would be an injustice to our children.

Mary Tharp,
Investment in young children through quality preschool will build a better workforce than corporate tax breaks. The current preschool system is working and it is moving Iowa in the wrong direction to eliminate it. This impacts all children because if one child is not school ready it impacts every student in that classroom. Quality preschool with certified teachers getting positive results should not be a partisan issue. The Governor's budget does not just cut four-year old preschool it eliminates critical funding for high need youngsters as well. The children that will be prevented from attending next year if this legislation passes will not get another chance. Do the right thing and save preschool.

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Stacey Randall,

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I support the Preschool statewide
program because it has proven to help child's social and emotional development.

Melissa Johnson,

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My family struggles to pay the bills. The Step Up preschool in CR has been a God send for 3 of our children. Our child who did not attend preschool receives special education in reading....I can't help but think this wouldn't be the case if he'd gone to Step Up preschool.

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Please don't take this away! Children need preschool teachers with a teaching degree!

Stacy York,

Jacque Dilks,
I Understand that our state budget needs to make some cuts. I do not believe we should cut preschool to make that happen. Why not save money by limiting the number of years people can live off of welfare.
Preschool is important. While I can afford to pay there are many people who cannot.
Please make a decision either way quickly so we can make plans accordingly for the Fall.

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Iowa's preschools are very important to children, families, and educators. As a college student majoring in elementary education, I would hate to see Iowa's preschools not get the funding they need and possibly close.

James Miller,
This is not the way to budget.

Marcie Kingery,
This is a great program and for some parents like me we won't qualify for any voucher program, and still can't afford preschool as we are already paying for daycare. Please don't end this program.

Michelle Swinney,
I am appalled at the wide range of knowledge, skills and developmental levels students have upon entering Kindergarten. Providing easy access to pre-school helps them all have a chance to enter kindergarten ready to learn. Many families do not understand the importance of preschool or they see too many obstacles in front of them to send their child to preschool. The preschool for every 4 year old program brings preschool in reach of so many more children and I think a lot of families will simply forego preschool regardless of their income level if the program is dropped. The result is that children are not ready for kindergarten and those that are ready are hindered by the fact that the others have to catch up.

Stephanie Erusha,

Diane Rinner,
Why are we looking at cutting a program that is working? Many other states that followed Iowa's lead with preschool programs aren't even looking at preschool cuts. They know the value of a good preschool education. I thought Iowa was ahead in most areas of education. If this happens it only puts us further behind.

Debbie Stanley,
AS a fourth grade teacher, any education we can give our children, will be beneficial to the child. When we give our students structure and organization, as well as love and attention, students will grow in their learning. How can we take this away from this young learners?

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mandy koehn,

Amanda Pence,

Allison Kremer,

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Cari Robinson,

Whitney Alber,

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Elizabeth Kascel,

Nick Alber,
Whatever they say this is a great program

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I support the preschool petition

Emily Steeples,
Cutting pre-school means higher costs to keep children caught up through the rest of the K-12 program. Investing in the future through pre-school is actually a lower-cost option in the long run. Let's think BIG PICTURE, people!!

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Ehrin Kelly,

Ashlee Bennett,

Jim Haag,

Becky Rose,

Rebecca Rouw,

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Liz Wilkins,

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Chad Thomas,

Doug Michels,

Marcia Martens Rosenboom,
Preschool prepares the student for learning by teaching early habits of sharing, listening, focus, etc. Without these, a year is lost.

Cortney Kieffer,

Vanessa King,

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Melody King,

Linda Frascht,

Nicholas Michels,

Ashley Brink,

Jennifer Knutson,

Coleen Stevenson,

Bob Frascht,

Noel Fry,

Karen Springer,
State funded preschool has professionalized early childhood education for the first time in Iowa. Please don't make any changes that move us backwards. Early childhood teachers are professionals and should not be able to be replaced by anyone with a four year degree in anything.

Amy Kuehn,

Terry Dutcher,

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This is a great program for our future, please fund it.

Rebecca Reiter

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Amanda Masker,

Keri Manning,
Early childhood educational experiences are key to intellectual development; Iowa should go the way of several other states and make 4-year old preschool a standard part of the public education system.

Shari G.,

Cara Clark,

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Please keep pre-K in our schools.

Raymond Apel,
It seems that the Republicans across this country are getting their priorities a bit screwed up. I don't know if it's arises from their self-proclaimed 'mandate' from winning seats in the last election, fear of the Tea Party or something in the Koolaid. They seem willing to sacrifice almost anything in the name of a 'crisis' while at the same time passing tax cuts for businesses and those of wealth. I guess one can't pass up a good 'crisis' to push their own ideology, agenda and repay political favors.

I can't imagine my kids not having having attended preschool. My daughter completed it last year and I was fortunate to be able to have the time to help in class on occasion. While volunteering I could see that there was a clear and definite education plan laid out just as you would find in elementary and high school with goals that should be attained. Maybe they just view it as tax-funded daycare but I viewed it as the start of her education.

I understand that cuts need to be made and that many will be unpopular or even painful but to continually target education is ridiculous. Our international standing regarding education is continually sliding lower and to continually cut education spending and vilify teachers is not going to help our future as a nation.

Get a clue, grow a backbone and do what's good for our future.

Danny Bynum,
Preschool helped my kids. I'm a firm believer in preschool. It gives kids the confidence to get educated.

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Funding 4 year old preschool will make it equitable for ALL 4 year olds to attend. Every child should have the same opportunity at school, funding should not limit whether or not they get to go.

Dawn Garbes,

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Alice Ciavarelli,
If funding for the initiative is cut and a scholarship program implemented, many people who appear to have sufficient income (on paper) will struggle to afford the cost. Don't we want ALL of our children to have the same opportunities and be the best they can be?

Angela Hansen,
I very much feel it is important to keep the 4 year old preschool program. I am a single mom who can not afford the additional costs of preschool but very much feel that it would benefit my child greatly. Aside from my own child, I feel that it is so important to support the education of our children. These children will be our future, they will be our doctors, politicians, lawyers, bankers, etc. They will make the decisions that will effect our health, our money, our laws - our lives. Why wouldn't we want to make sure that they are well educated and ready to take over when their time comes?

Christy pruett,

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The preschool program has helped my 4-year old excel and it is really prepping him for kindergarten. If we lose this program our children will be the ones to suffer for it.

Jenny Henson,

David Waterhouse,

Courtney Bennett,

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Our preschools should reflect our communities and society - children from all income levels, all ability levels, and all cultural and ethnic backgrounds being educated together to set the stage for success in school and beyond.

Alicia Hines,
This program has made a world of difference in my 4 year old daughter, Gracie! She is thriving in ways we never imagined possible at such a young age! I was really looking forward to my 3 year old to have the same advantages to get to have this same education, regardless of cost! We really need to think about this decision to keep our children the priority!

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William Henninger,
Current research suggest that investments in children early bring outstanding returns on this investment (for more information see the research conducted by Heckman; http://www.heckmanequation.org/). If Iowa cuts funding to preschools now to make up for budget shortfalls, it will most likely create unforeseen economic issues 15-20 years down the road. Please take the long view and invest in our children.

Mary Janssen,

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Cathy Eddy,

Kari Kraus,
I am a preschool teacher who's job is in jeopardy because, of the cuts. I can guarantee that I am not the only one who will lose their jobs.

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It is sad to see the Iowa legislature choose to cut the funding to preschools in order to balance the budget. I didn't get to go to preschool, but then again, my mother didn't work outside the home. I had play dates many times a week, and TV and video games weren't available for use as babysitters. Life has changed. Our children need quality preschools and certified teachers that understand the development of young children.

Amanda Wamsley,
Research has shown that getting children into a school setting helps to increase their chances of academic success. As we have this data readily available it is ridiculous that the state is trying to reduce access to these programs and it will only lead down a path of destruction. Without preschool my daughter would not have been ready to start school and my son will be attending when he is old enough as well.

Laura Banes,

Amy Scherrman,

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Cherri Johnson,
Educational monies, including early childhood education monies, should NOT be used for balancing our state's budget. Let's keep educating our children a TOP PRIORITY! Let's give our children the BEST chance for a BRIGHTER futer!

Karen Cannon,
providing free pre-school will not only encourage parents to send their children to pre-school but will also free up additional money for families to spend in the community.

Lori and Shawn Powers,
Our daughter benefited so much from attending pre school. Every child deserves this oportunity.

Latrinda Cooper,

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Iowa has a very long history of setting standards for education, and it would be a shame to see our great state take a step towards reducing support for early childhood development. Please don't sell out Iowa's great educational system. Children are Iowa's future, and we should be investing in them as much as we can.

Sharon shorter,

Kaseem Carter,

Michael Pittman,

Ryan Maas,

John Siegworth,

Andrew Robeson,
Save our future. Save our schools lets be smart cut someplace else.

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Cindy Barnett,

Jennifer and Mark Morrison,
This preschool is absolutely essential to Iowa's future!

Sylviai Dawson,

A Atkins,
Children become adults who shape the future,we should give pre-schoolers the chance to start learning early so the economy and environment they live in can be better than it currently is ie: unpreparedness for disasters,oil spills,budget cuts, spending more& getting less,etc,etc... We also NEED certified teachers so they can shape young children's minds to mold the future Iowa should strive for.

Dana Sand,

Kathleen Bonjour,
Even if you raise the amount of income a family can make and still get help for preschool, you will still have a middle group that has to choose between preschool and not.

Nicole Axtell,
Early Childhood Education is extremely important and valuable to not only the child, but to the community. Early Childhood is where children begin to learn social, academic, and self care skills that will help them to be successful in their educational career, and this produces individuals whom are responsible, and productive members of society.
The preschool programs with licensed educators, standards, and curriculum in place are NOT day cares or glorified babysitters. They are places of learning, support, and caring. The licensed educators are sculpting minds and building self confidence for those little people. Taking away the opportunity for preschool for ALL children would be devastating long term for our state.

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As a single mother of a 4 year old who is supposed to start preschool this fall I think that what Terry Brandstad is trying to do is wrong. There are so many single mothers like myself that go to school full time and work part time to raise there families and don't recieve child support and the ones who do dont get much. I as a single mother recieve 10.00 a month in child support because her father doesnt have a job and the STATE of IOWA decided to decline it when I tried to raise it. If terry brandstad would think about what he is doing to children and there families if he takes away free preschooling he'd rethink this. Kids are expected to know things when entering kindergarten. Some families legitamatley need the free preschool program. But Terry Brandstad isnt thinking about the single mothers in the STATE OF IOWA.

Mary Todd,

Fawn Wiebke,
This was helpful to the middle class the are struggling too. If you want are education to be top again make it a priority in the state

Brian Gockel,

Melanie Moxley,

Julie McCulloch,
Why are we taking financial resources away from the programs that shape our future??

Carl Morton,

Jennifer Pierce,

Justin Gilbertson,

Yolanda Reid,

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Beth McBride,
When the SWVPP was first initiated four years ago it was a major overhaul of a system that was in dire need of providing consistency of early childhood educational opportunities throughout the state. Prior to the SWVPP, preschool offerings in many small communities in Iowa were limited to faith based or private centers who could serve children only if they could pay tuition and then if they could get on the class list before the enrollment was filled. Once inside the classroom, curriculum and instruction was left to the discretion of the center. While the SWVPP created many hoops for us to jump through as educators, it has provided incredible opportunities for our youngest Iowans, their teachers and families. To yank funding at a Republican whim is selfish and short sighted. Yes, it IS the parents' responsibility to provide education at all levels to their children. In this day and age, with many parents, simply getting them to school meets that challenge. The SWVPP made certain assurances to schools and families that preschool education would be provided...schools reorganized structures, teaching assignments and professional development to accommodate the mandates that accompanied those assurance. And now politicians are backing out of their promises. This is education...not some political ploy to prove "my administration's better than your administration." This is our youth...not some piece of legislation to be offered as leverage. This is our future. It is the STATE's responsibility to follow through on its promise, regardless of whether or not that promise was made BB (before Branstad.)

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Laura Lien-Schwartz,

Jennifer Labath,

Theresa Leisen,

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With out this program my daughter may not be able to attend preschool. Our family falls in the "inbetween" we can't afford to pay for it, but we make to much to qualify for any assistance.

Bobbi Jo Rohrberg,
Iowa has a reputation of being an "Education State". Do not allow our reputation to be marred by cutting funding to statewide preschool programs!

Candace Proscovec,

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Renee Costigan,

Melissa,
Please save preschool access for those who need it! Qualified teachers are a must!

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Why make an already failing school system worse? These are our children, and our future. They are what we need to invest in. If you want to save some money, don't provide welfare and food stamps to illegal citizens and make legal citizens take drug tests in order to recieve the benefit.

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Rose Hesford,
My daughter has made huge strides both intellectually and socially. This is all thanks to a preschool in our local elementary school. It would be very unwise to allow such beneficial programs to be cancelled.

Tanya Smith,

Donna Jeffries,

Stephanie Arndt,

Stephanie Wall,

Laura A. Vicha,

Sue Carnahan,
Please consider the children becuase they will be the real losers in this battle.

sarah,

Stacy Lea Sterrett,
Master Educators License in Iowa....Retired military training and education specialist.......PRESCHOOL should be mandatory our children deserve this. We (Iowan's) pride ourselves on education, yet we do something that makes absolutely no sense for Iowa's future ****our future is our children. SAVE PRESCHOOL..

Imelda K Collins,
As a parent and a grandparent, I would like to see the continuance of the preschool program. These children do show a significance difference when they have had the oppotunity to learn early prior to going to school, k-12. It would be an atroscity to no longer have preschool available for all children

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I think continuing the free preschool is a good idea. My daughter is in preschool right now, and has gained so much more from it than we ever imagined. I can't imagine not having her go to preschool. She would really miss out. Eliminating free preschool would make it so children who really need these skills don't get them.

kristin uhlenhopp,

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Taking away the Preschool program is WRONG! Taking away the allowable growth for education is WRONG! Education is the foundation for every child's future.

Jennifer Mull,

Nathaniel Spurgeon,
We're falling behind other states and countries in education and innovation. That will cause a trickle down effect that will drive our country into mediocrity. Enhance early education and keep our country's hopes alive!

Charlotte Knipper,

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My daughter will be attending (or not depending on what happens) the preschool. First we are told that she probably won't because the funding isn't there, then it is there, now they say there maybe no transportation...even though my second grader would ride the same bus as her. Our children are our future and if we can't invest in that then we are waisting money else where.

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Angela Hanson,

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THIS IS THE ONLY PROGRAM THAT HELPS MIDDLE CLASS PARENTS, THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PAYING THE TAXES, GIVE THEM A BREAK ONCE AND QUIT REWARDING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING CHILDREN AND NOT WORKING. THEY SHOULD HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO TEACH THEIR OWN KIDS.

Mindi K Hartman,
I am a mother of three boys. My oldest child was offered preschool a couple of hours three days a week for 0 a month. This was offered for 1 year. He went to Kindergarten not knowing his 123's or abc's. He didn't know how to spell his name. As he went into 1st grade he could not read like most of his peers. He was delayed in knowing his sight words. He was not given the chance to learn like his younger siblings.
He is now in 6th grade and struggles everyday. He doesn't believe in himself.

Alex started preschool as a 2 year old. He learned his letters using "Mat Man". He still talks about it from time to time. He had three years of preschool and by the time he went into Kindergarten he knew how to write 123's, abc's, his name, and shapes. He had a much easier time learning his sight words because of this. Now he is in 1st grade. He is reading at a third grade level. He loves to read! He loves Math! His social skills are outstanding. He knows his subjects and it shows in his confidence. If one of his parents are wrong he tells them.

Our youngest has just turned 4. This is his first year in preschool. Amazing results in his first year. He is singing songs, reciting nursery rhymes, counts to 10 and recognizes his name in print. Going to preschool 5 days a week is a routine to him. He benefits him in the long run.

I feel it benefits Iowa in the years ahead. These boys are our FUTURE. They respresent IOWA! Statewide preschool for all is a wise investment for our future and for their futures. Please vote to keep the funded preschool program. Its whats good for our Iowa Roots!!!!

Jason Johnson,
Formal preschool programs provide learning and socialization opportunities that help ease transition into Kindergarten and jumpstart the learning process. Many children are learning effectively at 3 years of age and certainly at 4. I hate to see children stabled in daycares and at home when they have the opportunity to begin learning and interacting with their peers.

Angela M. Johnson,
This is a no-brainer. We must educate our youth or perish by our own ignorance.

Manda McKinley,

Monica Lawson,

Jennifer Merschbrock,

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Carrie Brandel,
I have 2 children in preschool and daycare, Brandstad has no idea what kind of impact this grant has meant to people. Please don't cut funding for education for any income!

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I think this is so much more important than gas stations selling hard liquor and liquor delivery. We need to get our priorities straight!

Tammy Reichel,

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Cutting this funding will affect hundreds of thousands of individuals. Increased stress on educators is NOT what Iowa needs and not starting the development of children and getting them ready for education is a TERRIBLE idea. I challenge you lawmakers to actually dig into the budget and find items that you should be cutting, not just defaulting to the 'high cost - no reward' programs like preschool. There is a reward for preschool, but just because you can't see it doesn't mean it is not there.

Melanie Ostmo,

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PLEASE HELP US, WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH HOUSE PAYMENTS, CAR PAYMENTS AND TAXES, I WOULD LIKE TO SAVE THE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, IT WOULD HELP MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES LIKE US THAT WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

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Jordawn Williams,

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Jennifer Winn,

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Robin Jackson,

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I believe there has to be another place to cut $$$ then at the expense of the children. These children are the future and ALL children deserve to experience preschool. Why doesn't the Governor forfeit some of his pay if he believes so strongly on cutting the budget!?!?!

Natasha Taylor,
When I would visit my children at the beginning of Kindergarten, I could always tell the children who had been in preschool and who hadn't!! It was sad to see children unable to write their names or know colors and shapes.
Preschool teaches academic and behavioral basics that prepare them for school. Starting Kindergarten with confidence and skills makes children more successful in school and increases their chances of graduating high school and attending college

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I support universal preschool to improve the lives of children, communities and business.

Teri Peak,
leave the current pre-school alone. It works!!!! Also leave the teachers alone as well, Pre-schoolers need certifed teachers as well.

Nicole Schrauth,
At preschool, they become exposed to numbers, letters, and shapes. More important, they learn how to socialize, get along with other children, share, contribute to circle time, learn the different ethnicities. They become part of another family! My daughter has turned 5 and can read and write anything and everything! The preschool program is great!! She comes home and teaches her younger sister whom i am praying can attend next year!!DO NOT Take this away from these children! Shame on you!!

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Carl Thielen,

Susanna Balderas,
I have had the privilege to watch a growing 5 year old the past couple of years. Preschool had a HUGE part in that!! Don't take away something that has truly helped us all grow and learn!

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PLEASE DO NOT TAKE AWAY PRESCHOOL! This is a vital role in preparing our young ones for their education. I am proud to be an Iowan and teach the youth of our nation, why would we ever take away tools that help lead to success?

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It would be a shame to see this great program dropped --I am sure there are other cuts that can be made to save our education programs!!

Traci Wildeboer,

Shana Stamps,

Jim Hoppman,
There are plenty of other areas to cut expenses! The implications are more than lost education for students!

Jen Hoppman,
Not requiring licensed educators to shape the future of our children is a mistake. There are plenty of other areas cut backs could be made. Do not sacrifice the future of our children.

ashley jordan,
My daughter is going to be in 2011 4 year program if it is not dropped, she is looking forward to going to school and she will not be going if the program is dropped becasue i feel if they are not really an educator how can it be any different then going to daycare? it is important to the states future that the program not be dropped!

Carrie Siefer,

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Jenny Van Weelden,

William Van Weelden,

Kate Brauman,
As a parent of a child who will be attending a four year old preschool program in the fall of 2011 I urge you to keep the state funded preschool program available to our children. The availability of QUALITY preschool teachers and programs is a big part in preparing our children for future learning. Since I have older children I know how difficult it was to find a quality, affordable preschool, with teachers who were highly qualified. Please keep the four year old preschool program available so that every child has the opportunity to obtain a solid foundation for which to build their education.

Courtney Ayala,

Tyler Kuhlman,
Save our preschools. for every dollar spent on a preschooler is saving 7 dollars when they are older. Do the math.

Andrea Kuhlman,
Save our preschools. for every dollar spent on a preschooler is saving 7 dollars when they are older. Do the math.

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Abbey Sauerbrei,

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Mariha Goode,
I work with children in our Preschool programs. I believe it is of utmost importance, and, to the benefit of the future of not only Iowa, but America. These precious children deserve to have the benefit of the experience that we provide them with: a structured environment that is educational, safe and nurturing. We help to introduce social skills and routines, and so much more.

Ryan Roach,

Ryan Thielen,

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wHAT ARE THESE KID THAT DON'T HAVE HEAD START GOING TO BE LIKE? tHINK ABOUT IT SO MANY LIVES MESSED UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mikel Beaty,
We must maintain good and affordable preschool for the future of our communities and the state. These programs also spot any learning disabley that could be reduced or fixed by the time they enter the elementary grades.

Dawnel M Smith,

Amy Lyons,

Bethany Landon-Heinbuch,

Rodney Larson,

Annie Krause,

Adam Krause,

Mike Pelham,

Maureen Dyer,
This is a tragedy for our state and our children. As an educator and the parent of a toddler, I cannot help but picture the children who are less fortunate than my own and know that they will be missing out on amazing opportunities when they are preschool-aged. Four years old is such an important and very precious age in a child's life for learning. Why not use our tax money where it is needed most--on the children who ARE our future. In recent years, Iowa had been moving in the right direction with eduction. Now, we have taken some very big steps backwards. What a sad time for education in our state.

Amanda Ellenberger,
For every single kindergarten teacher and student. Pre-school is the best way to prepare them for the best possible school experience, and we can't afford to rob our children of that.

jessica clark,

Corey anderson,

Joni Steenhoek,

Dee Priske,

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We need to save the free preschool for 4 year olds. Most families cannot afford preschool for every child. And there are circumstances where children need it and are living with grandparents and they can't afford to send them. Give our kids a break. They need the education before they go to Kindergarten.

Amanda Schlemme,

Tara Jacobson,
anyone that wants to end preschool is a fucking moron.

Carmen Gutierrez,

Elizabeth Rozendaal,
This grant needs to get resolved. I have no problem paying for my sons education, yet he is not given the opportunity to get the best education because of these guidelines that are be putting into place. My husband and I make over the income guidelines to get into the community preschool because of the new grant system. This is the only place in town that they have certified 4 year teachers. If we are going to save this program it needs to be saved for all preschoolers and not just the ones that qualify for the grant program.

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This impacts our future leaders. there are other areas that need to practive fiscal responsibility.

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James van Howe,

Joy Plumley,

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Eli Brown,

Amy Nath,

Pierrette Wolfe,
Children don't have high-priced lobbyists to advocate for them -- we all have to be their voice. Please protect access to quality preschool for all Iowa children!

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Maureen Hilligas,
Too many short cuts are being made with our children's education already... how about giving kids a fighting chance instead of just giving them our bare minimum...

Ron Lorenz,
It is a fact that we get substantially greater return on investment from dollars allocated to preschool and Early ACCESS programs. Stop playing politics with our future and fund these programs.

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Bobbi Eggert,

Shawna Beeman,

jackie boell,
Please do not stop free preschool, My mom almost lost her job this year because free pre school, would end, My family would also be affected I would have two children in pre school on in three year old and the other in four year old. This is excluding their daycare and my daughter's after school program. I would have to choose to not send my youngest to pre school or not pay a major bill please don't get rid of the free pre school we would not qualify for govermetn assistance.

Ashley Wood,
I'm currently in school for Early Childhood Education and Para Educator. And from the experinces I've been seeing with my students and friends with children, most parent don't have time to work with thier children becasue they're so busy working trying to make ends meet. So many parents have to take thier children out of preschool all because they make maybe a cent more than they should. Just becasue they're making a little bit more of money dosn't mean they can afford to pay for preschool.

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Providing the youth of Iowa a well rounded education is essential in the continued development of our children's higher education.

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Katie Roemer,
My son took part in the preschool program for 4-year-olds. He is now in Kindergarten and reading at a 2nd grade level! There is nothing better to offer Iowa's children than the gift of education.

Chantel Getter,
Since when does the State of Iowa NOT make education a priority? Come on people wake up! Remember that whole bit about it being a global market place and our kids not being ready to compete because we have let out educational system suffer. So, by all means...lets cut some more from the education budget.

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Chris Jones,

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Lindsey Brown,
Im really hoping Iowa decides to keep this program! My husband and I live paycheck to paycheck and are struggling to keep our house out of forclosure! I dont know how I would be able to afford an extra 5 a month on top of daycare while i go to work! I would have to quit my job! Please please keep this program! You have no idea how much it has helped out Iowa familys!

Abbie Paul,

Corey Paul,

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I think this program is very valuable for our young children. I personally had preschool and believe it gets children socially and mentally ready for a full day of kindergarten.

Aimee Hennigh,

AShley Schott,
Please continue the Universal Preschool free program for 2012-2013!!

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Liza Tucker,
To Whom It May Concern:

A few years ago, my eldest daughter was able to participate in the free four year olds preschool. As a family with three children in which only one parent works, it was so helpful to us! This next school year, my next daughter will be four and we are hoping it is her turn to go to preschool. We know this will be possible with this program, but will be questionable without it.

I can think of some other areas of the budget that could bear being cut down a bit, but please don't cut this program out.

Sincerely,

Liza

Christine Dutton,
If our legislators really care about education as the intimate they do, why would we even think of getting rid of preschools? It makes it very difficult for the voters to believe the elected officials in our state are as concerned about education as they say they are when we see more schools closing, more programs being cut, and teachers not getting raises they deserve.

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Jennifer Jones,

Andrea Richardson,

Salina Chesnut,

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My daughter loves her preschool program at Little Lions in Marion, Iowa. She is thriving because of the preschool initiative, and I am a very grateful parent. Thank you.

Andrew T Uhlenhake,
Please fund our children's future. Governor, your grandchild went to free preschool, why is it that the rest of Iowa's four year olds are now a problem?
I pay taxes just like you and yet we the people get the stick, while you take the carrot?
You want to balance the budget, how about ending subsides to businesses that do not really need it?
It has been proven your tax breaks and subsides for business do nothing, do not create any wealth for the state or a majority of its inhabitants and yet these will not be cut, it is our four year old childrens future you choose to gamble with. WAKE UP AND STOP THIS MADNESS

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Our district has offered the IQPPS state funded preschool for four years now and in that four years test scores at the lower elementary level have improved. Preschools with high standards and a certified teacher are making a difference.

kristen lancaster,

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DO I want every day of school to be difficult or easy? That is what offering my child one more year will do.

Allen Witt,
Achievement Gap in later years can be closed by early childhood education.

Leisl Lidiak,