Edward M. Kennedy: “today I am introducing The Ready to Learn Reauthorization Act of 1994, which mobilizes the power of television to bring…”

“today I am introducing The Ready to Learn Reauthorization Act of 1994, which mobilizes the power of television to bring quality educational programming to all children in our Nation. We know that each year, our 19 million preschoolers watch 14 billion hours of television--an average of 28 hours each week. Television has the capability to be a remarkable teacher, and a highly cost-effective source of information and education. By making quality educational programming widely available, all children can benefit--whether they live in distant rural towns or the inner city. Ready to Learn also puts a strong emphasis on providing parents and child care givers materials and resources to work with their preschool children, getting the most out of educational programming. We have seen families and Head Start providers in isolated and disadvantaged communities benefit from training materials developed and provided over the airwaves--where local resources could never support these educational opportunities. The Ready to Learn Act is a key tool to move forward with the Number One Education goal--school readiness for all children. We fall far short of that goal today. According to a study by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, 35 percent of the country's children do not enter school ready to learn.”