10/20/06 Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

General Assembly – 133 State Street – Montpelier, VT 05602 – 802-828-2228 – Fax: 802-828-2424

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 20, 2006 Contact: Anne Winchester Phone: 828-2231 Fax: 828-2424

PreKindergarten Education Expert to Testify in Montpelier Montpelier, Vermont Dr. Steven Barnett, Director of the National Institute of Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University will speak to a legislative committee studying the pros and cons of offering publicly funded prekindergarten education to Vermont children. The meeting, which is open to the public, will be in room 10 of the State House in Montpelier on Friday, October 27 from 11:00 to noon. Dr. Barnett is also a professor of education economics and public policy at Rutgers University. His research includes studies of the economics of early care and education including costs and benefits, the long term effects of preschool programs on children's learning and development, and the distribution of educational opportunities. He will discuss research findings, experience in other states, financial implications and policy recommendations regarding public prekindergarten education. The National Institute of Early Education Research is an institution which provides policy makers with research based advice and technical assistance with the goal of producing and communicating the knowledge base required to ensure that every American child can receive a good education at ages three and four. The meeting will be open to the public. In addition, CCTV/Channel 17 will tape the discussion and will broadcast it a week or so after the 27^th.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: October 20, 2006

Contact: Anne Winchester

Phone: 828-2231

Fax: 828-2424

PreKindergarten Education Expert to Testify in Montpelier

Montpelier, Vermont

Dr. Steven Barnett, Director of the National Institute of Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University will speak to a legislative committee studying the pros and cons of offering publicly funded prekindergarten education to Vermont children. The meeting, which is open to the public, will be in room 10 of the State House in Montpelier on Friday, October 27 from 11:00 to noon.

Dr. Barnett is also a professor of education economics and public policy at Rutgers University. His research includes studies of the economics of early care and education including costs and benefits, the long term effects of preschool programs on children's learning and development, and the distribution of educational opportunities. He will discuss research findings, experience in other states, financial implications and policy recommendations regarding public prekindergarten education.

The National Institute of Early Education Research is an institution which provides policy makers with research based advice and technical assistance with the goal of producing and communicating the knowledge base required to ensure that every American child can receive a good education at ages three and four.

The meeting will be open to the public. In addition, CCTV/Channel 17 will tape the discussion and will broadcast it a week or so after the 27^th.