Senator Cochran Backs New Federal Pre-K Investment

Mississippi is the only state in the South and one of twelve in the nation without a state-funded pre-k program, but at least one of the state's U.S. senators aims to remove that distinction. Last week, speaking with the Daily Journal, Republican Sen. Thad Cochran expressed his hopes for federal incentive funding to support the creation of state pre-k education in Mississippi. He announced his desire to work with Sen. Edward Kennedy, chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, on a federal initiative that could help bring Mississippi and other states out of the Pre-K Wilderness. The Daily Journal enthusiastically backed his vision, noting that Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee have taken steps to expand their thriving state-funded pre-k programs and pointing out that Cochran's "commitment opens a door for Mississippi to gather its political willpower and resources."