From: Angie Welling
To: Rep. Perry, L.,
Subject: I Urge You to Vote Yes on HB96!
Date: 2014-02-10T21:43:57Z
Body:

Feb 10, 2014 Representative Lee Perry State Capitol , Suite 350 350 North State Street Salt Lake City, UT 84114 Dear Representative Perry, I am writing to ask that you support school readiness and vote YES on HB96. As I sat in last week's committee hearing for HB96, I was struck by how naive opponents to this legislation are to the world around them. Of course, it would be wonderful if all children had parents and grandparents at home to teach them and prepare them for school. But in the real world, not all children have two parents and an extended family support system at home. In some cases, mothers and fathers left years ago, leaving one parent at home. In others, parents are working multiple jobs just to make ends meet and put food on the table, leaving precious little time for even a bedtime story at the end of the day. High-quality preschool is a proven strategy that changes the odds for at-risk children who lack such opportunities naively presented by the Utah Eagle Forum, Sutherland Institute and other opposition groups. VOLUNTARY participation in a high-quality preschool program ensures that Utah children enter kindergarten on-track with their peers and reach proven benchmarks. It also increases their chances of graduating from high school, receiving post-secondary education, and obtaining a stable job, which ultimately, saves the state and taxpayers millions by avoiding costly remediation programs. HB96 will offer an innovative way to partner with the private sector, increase the number of at-risk students who can access high-quality preschool programs, and ensure that children are ready to learn. Please vote yes on HB96 and allow parents the opportunity to access tools that will allow them to make the best decision for their families. Sincerely, Ms. Angie Welling 830 E 6th Ave Salt Lake City, UT 84103-3530