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Pre-K Now
Pre-K Press Examples
Press Release
A press release is a newsworthy story, announcement, or statement about your community or organization that you submit to various media: newspapers, radio, television, magazines, etc. Best practice is to limit a release to no more than a page and a half and direct interested reporters to complementary materials that your press office can provide. This sample was released by the Illinois State Board of Education.

For Immediate Release:
April 21, 2005
Contact: Becky Watts, 217-782-0886

Gov. Blagojevich’s Pre-school Expansion Efforts Receive National Recognition
National report calls Governor a “Pre-K budget hero”

(SPRINGFIELD, IL) – A national report released today praises Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich for his continued commitment to expanding pre-school access in Illinois. Despite unprecedented budget deficits, Gov. Blagojevich has made a strong financial commitment to early childhood education with increases of more than 30 percent over the last two years. The Governor’s proposal for FY 2006 is the third year of a three-year $90 million plan to significantly increase access to state pre-school in Illinois.

The report,”Leadership Matters: Governors’ FY 2006 Pre-K Proposals,” was released today by Pre-K Now, a national organization. The report described Governor Blagojevich as a “Pre-K budget hero” for continuing his push for pre-school expansion despite difficult financial conditions.

“This is fitting recognition for Governor Blagojevich, who has shown a unique commitment to expanding pre-school in Illinois,” said State Board of Education Chairman Jesse Ruiz. “Thousands of children and working families will reap lifelong benefits because they have access to pre-school classes that this funding created. Early childhood education is the most important investment we can make in the future of our state.”

This is the second time in the last six months that Illinois has received national recognition for its leadership in early childhood education. In November 2004, the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) released its “2004 State Pre-School Yearbook,” which ranked Illinois as one of the top three states for program quality. Illinois received praise for its teacher training as one of only 13 states to require certification for its early childhood teachers.

Pre-K Now collaborates with advocates and policymakers to lead a movement for high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten for all three and four year olds and works to raise public awareness about the need for high-quality pre-k for all children. The organization’s vision is a nation in which every child enters kindergarten prepared to succeed.
 
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Tips & Tasks for State Advisory Councils
While reauthorizing Head Start in 2007, Congress added a new provision requiring every state to create or designate a State Advisory Council to better coordinate early education and care services. Pre-K Now has two new resources designed to help policymakers and advocates navigate the process of setting up Councils and seize the opportunities offered by them.
State Advisory Councils brief (PDF)
Council planning template (PDF)
Meeting the Challenge of Rural Pre-K
Families everywhere struggle to find high-quality pre-k programs for their children, but the problem is even more acute in rural areas. Pre-K Now has come out with recommendations for federal policymakers to help states meet the unique challenges of rural pre-k.
download the white paper (PDF)
see our other federal policy work
Video: Briefing on America's Pre-K Movement
Pre-K Now held a briefing for congressional staff, cosponsored by Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Kit Bond, on October 1. Hear what a governor, three superintendents, two directors of early childhood programs, and a national teacher of the year think Congress should do to increase families' access to quality, state-funded pre-k.
watch and learn more
Pre-k is personal - it's children named Emma, teachers named Tina and parents named Mike.