LDS Oregon Home Educators Association

[LDS-OHEA Admin]

Need Your Help - RE: Universal Preschool in WA


Hi! My name is Diane Flynn Keith and I'm a veteran homeschool mom from the San Francisco Bay Area. I am also the founder of UniversalPreschool.com -- a website devoted to preventing the implementation of government funded and/or mandated universal preschools.

Yesterday, I read the announcement from the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation that they are working in conjunction with WA state to establish
universal preschool. I have provided some excerpts and comments about the announcement below. You can read the full announcement from the Gates Foundation at:
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/PacificNorthwest/EarlyLearning/Announcements/
announce-060707.htm

In my home state of California, we have been fighting the push to implement government preschool-for-all programs that include academic curriculum, testing, and possible mental health screening of 2-5 year olds. We recently defeated a proposition that would have funded universal preschool in this state. However, the legislators intend to find another source of funding to establish public preschools. It seems we started with our opposition too late.

This move toward government universal preschool is taking place throughout the country. It not only usurps parental authority, it has the potential to harm the healthy intellectual, physical, social, emotional and psychological development of children 2-5, as well as threaten the home education of young children.

I have learned that the sooner we respond to this threat, the better.
Washington has set in motion a plan to move toward establishment of a state universal preschool program.

I am writing to you to respectfully request that you alert the members of
the LDS-OHEA to the problem and encourage them to write to Governor Gregoire and their state legislators (as well as Bill Gates, Sr.) and let them know that they do not support state interference in raising and educating young children.

You can find more information about the problems inherent in government
preschools at http://www.UniversalPreschool.com.

I maintain a discussion list for grassroots activism to oppose these
government preschool-for-all programs wherever they crop up. We welcome anyone who wants or needs help resisting these programs in Washington. To join the free discussion list send a blank email to:
UniversalPreschool-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

If you have any questions or concerns you are welcome to contact me directly at diane@universalpreschool.com or editor@homefires.com

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Diane Flynn Keith
Founder, http://www.UniversalPreschool.com
Editor, http://www.Homefires.com
Author of \"Carschooling\" http://www.Carschooling.com



------Original Message-----

Did you see the announcement by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on July 10th? You can read the whole thing here:
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/PacificNorthwest/EarlyLearning/Announcements/
announce-060707.htm

I cut and paste portions of the article below....along with a couple of
comments at the end....

State, Corporations and Philanthropy Complete Agreement to Form
Public-Private Partnership for Early Learning

Thrive by Five: The Washington Early Learning Fund begins with more than $9 million in new funding for local grantmaking

SEATTLE -- The state's top government, business and philanthropic leaders
today announced the formation of Thrive by Five, the Washington Early
Learning Fund. This new public-private partnership, initially funded with
more than $9 million, will reward and encourage improvements in early
learning that are designed to ensure all young children arrive for their
first day of kindergarten ready to succeed. Partners expect funding to
continue to grow.

The board of Thrive by Five Washington will be co-chaired by Governor Chris Gregoire and Bill Gates, Sr. and will consist of bi-partisan, statewide
leaders representing government, business and the nonprofit sector.

\"We know children with early learning success are more likely to finish
school, more likely to go to college, less likely to be unemployed and less
likely to commit crimes. They will have arrived in kindergarten ready to
learn and that foundation continues to serve them throughout their school
career,\" said Governor Gregoire. \"This partnership, which brings needed
public and private resources, coordination and attention to improving early
learning, is a priority for me and for Washington.\"

\"I've arrived at the critical importance of early learning late in my
life,\" said William H. Gates Sr., co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation. \"I now recognize how critical the early years are in preparing
children for future success at school and into adulthood. We know that the
best way to accomplish lasting positive change is to collaborate with
dedicated partners, and Thrive by Five Washington represents the best our
state has to offer.\"

Thrive by Five Washington resulted from the January 17 signing of a
memorandum of understanding, which outlined a four-month planning process
for public and private funders of early learning to create a statewide
partnership. The partnership has been established to complement and enhance
existing early learning efforts across the state, including parent education
and support, childcare improvements, preschool, and other early learning
opportunities. Thrive by Five Washington will serve as an intermediary for
state and private funders to make pooled and aligned investments to boost
access to quality, affordable early learning across the state. A Thrive by
Five Web site also was launched today. http://thrivebyfivewa.org/

...Thrive by Five Washington will also be making targeted investments in
promising early learning models in communities throughout Washington, with
funding to support programs such as parent education that provides
easy-to-understand, practical advice to help parents and caregivers in their
role as the most important teachers in the first five years of a child's
life, training opportunities for childcare professionals, support programs
for new parents, and quality Pre-Kindergarten programs.

Recent surveys indicate that as many of half of our state's children begin
kindergarten unprepared.

\"Sadly many of our state children who start behind end up staying behind,\"
said State Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt. \"Experts agree that
investing in early learning is a smart way to save tax payer dollars in the
long run by reducing school failure and crime while producing a more
educated workforce.\"

\"Washington currently lags behind many other states which have made
strategic investments on behalf of early learning,\" said Bob Watt, vice
president of government and community relations for the Boeing Company.
\"But now we have the opportunity to dramatically improve quality and access
to early learning through local initiatives in communities across our
state.\"
Thrive by Five Washington joins with many other states that have focused on
improving access to quality early learning as a statewide priority,
including North Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma and Illinois.

Thrive by Five Washington is governed ...by the following board of
directors:

. Governor Christine Gregoire, co-chair, phone: 360.902.4136
. William H. Gates, Sr., co-chair, phone: 206.352.8598 or email:
media@gatesfoundation.org
. Alan Mulally, The Boeing Company, phone: 206.766.2910
. Bob Watt, The Boeing Company, phone: 206.766.2910
. Jackie Bezos, Bezos Family Foundation, email:
info@bezosfamilyfoundation.org
. Jolene McCaw, Talaris Research Institute, contact info: 206.859.5608 or
email cherylynnec@talaris.org
. Mona Locke, Foundation for Early Learning, phone: 206.525.4801 or email
info@earlylearning.org
. Kim Ackerley Cleworth, Ackerley Foundation, phone: 206.624.2888 or email:
kcleworth@ackerley.com
. Tony Benton, Clear Channel, Contact: 210.832.3348
. Terry Bergeson, WA State Superintendent of Public Instruction, phone:
(360) 725-6000
. Tricia McKay, Medina Foundation, phone: 206.652.8783 or email:
info@medinafoundation.org
. Kevin C. Washington, Tabor 100, phone: 206) 935-1228 or Email:
washinkc@comcast.net
. Dan Kranzler, Kirlin Charitable Foundation, phone: 206.381.2250 or
www.kirlinfoundation.org
. Cliff Lawrence, Wells Fargo
. State Senator Mike Hewitt (R) - Senate Minority Leader, phone:
360-786-7630
. State Representative Ruth Kagi (D) - Chair, House Family & Child Services
Committee, email: kagi.ruth@leg.wa.gov

###

HEADS UP WASHINGTON!!!
WA state residents -- use the contact info above and let them know you
OPPOSE their plans!