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Haslam keeps door open to pre-K; Ramsey skeptical

Gov. BIll Haslam, left, leads a discussion at Tennessee's Education Summit Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn. Representatives of local governments, school systems and businesses are taking part in the summit, along with state senators and representatives. At right is Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Gov. BIll Haslam, left, leads a discussion at Tennessee's Education Summit Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn. Representatives of local governments, school systems and businesses are taking part in the summit, along with state senators and representatives. At right is Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Gov. BIll Haslam, left, leads a discussion at Tennessee's Education Summit Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn. Representatives of local governments, school systems and businesses are taking part in the summit, along with state senators and representatives. At right is Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

By Associated Press 1 min read

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – While Gov. Bill Haslam is keeping the door open to an expansion of the public pre-kindergarten program in Tennessee, any such move would remain a tough sell among some fellow Republicans in the Legislature.

Haslam stressed this week that a federal notice that Tennessee intends to apply for a share of federal money available for pre-K expansion doesn’t mean the state will necessarily follow through. The governor said he is still awaiting the results of a multi-year Vanderbilt study on the effectiveness of pre-K before making up his mind.

Should Haslam ultimately decide to pursue more money for pre-K, he will have to persuade Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, a long-time critic of the program for 4-year olds. Ramsey called pre-K “a liberal, feel-good program that’s not working.”