Gov. Tim Kaine asked state lawmakers last session for $56 million to expand subsidized pre-kindergarten for low-income children. They gave him less than half that.
Next year, Republican House leaders are expected to take another swipe at the program, which they frame as a pet project the governor won’t let go of despite worsening budget realities.
Hopes for expanding pre-K next year probably will be dashed by the state’s projected $3 billion budget shortfall. And Kaine will be forced to again defend a program that, despite its comparatively meager size, could be on the chopping block along with millions of dollars in cuts to other education funding.
Kaine, in an effort to maintain funding for teachers, has sought out education cuts that principally hit support staff.
“If you can do it outside the classroom, I don’t know why you’d go in and cut inside the classroom,” he said in a recent interview.
Child advocates have applauded Kaine’s efforts. But appropriators last session “weren’t real wild” about the Pre-K expansion, said Del. Chris Saxman, R-Staunton.
“He’ll have to spend most of that time trying to defend that spending,” Saxman said.