Romney vetoes universal prekindergarten in state
Boston Globe (AP), August 5, 2006

(excerpts)Governor Mitt Romney vetoed a bill yesterday that would require the state to develop prekindergarten education programs for every Massachusetts child age 2 to 4, saying the proposal was too costly and unproven. The bill, which unanimously passed both legislative houses, would create school programs for all children beginning at age 2 until kindergarten. Some education specialists believe such early classroom programs pave the way for future academic success. But Romney said he wanted to wait until the results from an ongoing $4.6 million prekindergarten pilot program in Massachusetts, which concludes in February of 2007. ``Before we create an expensive new burden on Massachusetts taxpayers, one that could lead to future tax increases, we ought to await the results of the pilot program, particularly as it relates to the cost of a large scale expansion," he said in a statement. Under the bill, state education officials would have to make prekindergarten universal, much like K-though-12 education. They could combine programs run by local school districts with Head Start early education programs and programs offered by licensed child-care centers to create a statewide network. The bill allows for the prekindergarten programs to first be established in low-performing school districts, based on MCAS scores. Romney said the costs of such an expansive program would be considerable.