In a sharp contrast with Gov. Chet Culver, Terry Branstad supports the elimination of the very successful statewide voluntary preschool program for 4-year-olds.

Today in Iowa, preschool is offered in 175 school districts through a competitive grant program to make licensed teachers available to kids in cooperation with professionals and organizations in the local community. More than 12,000 Iowa kids have benefitted from preschool since Governor Culver led the fight for quality in Iowa’s early childhood education system in 2007.

In his condition of the state address Tuesday, Governor Culver listed early childhood education among his top priorities and asked legislators to fund the final $15 million of a $60 million, four-year investment. Culver said the grants will help prepare kids for the 21st Century global economy.

“The preschool grants have been tremendously well-received throughout the state,” Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan said. “Kids have access to quality curriculum and licensed teachers in places where that was not possible before.”

Even though early childhood education is critical for brain development, early socialization and preparation for kindergarten, Branstad is ready to get rid of the state’s successful program altogether.

At a campaign stop in Centerville on Saturday, Dec. 12, Branstad let loose on public preschool grants:

“I guess my feeling is it (pre-K) that it has to be done privately, not by the state. I don’t have any problems providing maybe for some lower income people some financial incentives or assistance for that. And I do understand the benefit of preschool. But, I don’t know if that’s the responsibility of the tax payers. Providing tax supported preschool for everybody. I think there are higher priorities in terms of education.”

“Branstad is wrong on preschool and Iowans will stand with Gov. Culver when it comes to providing a quality education to our children,” Kiernan said.