"It's a year-end present for tens of thousands of kids and early childhood education programs."

[babylonsister]

Last edited Wed Dec 10, 2014, 10:37 PM - Edit history (1)

Obama Unveils $1B Boost for Preschools, Including $55 Million From Disney
Dec 10, 2014, 6:30 AM ET
By DEVIN DWYER



It's a year-end present for tens of thousands of kids and early childhood education programs.

President Obama today is set to unveil a $1 billion package of new public and private funding for U.S. preschool programs during a White House summit to promote one of his favored domestic initiatives.

The Walt Disney Co., the parent company of ABC News, has contributed $55 million in “Disney Imagicademy” apps and books to help bolster pre-kindergarten reading programs, the company said.

The administration is also launching a new campaign, “Invest in US,” to enhance private investment in the programs, officials said. A number of celebrities, including Shakira, Jennifer Garner and John Legend, will lend their voices to a promotional campaign.

"What we're demonstrating here is how important this is, that we're making progress and doing it in a bipartisan way," said Obama domestic policy adviser Cecilia Munoz.

Three quarters of the funds Obama will announce come from existing government grant programs, according to the White House. Nearly four dozen private sector companies, including LEGO and PVH Corp., which owns clothing lines Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, have pledged donations of more than $300 million combined.

The Education Department projects the new federal grants will allow 63,000 additional American children access to early childhood education programs next year.

more...

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/obama-unveils-1b-boost-preschools-including-55-million/story?id=27470640

Edit to change title, because I can.

[Jesus Malverde]

1. Corporatization of Kindergardens.

Is there nothing sacred?

“Disney Imagicademy” apps and books to help bolster pre-kindergarten reading programs,

In business we call this marketing.

[msanthrope]

3. Jeebus Christ..have you been to a preschool lately? "Frozen" and Disney don't need to market

there...every child can already recite chapter, book, and verse, thanks to Mom and Dad and cable.

[babylonsister]

4. #UnFUCKINGbelievable.

I give up. Nothing is good enough for these people on DU. All they do is whine and complain, even about good news.
Thanks for not whining.

[msanthrope]

5. Elsa might tell someone to stay in school. That's gotta be fascist. nt

[Quackers]

15. Or "let it go".

[Jesus Malverde]

7. The private sector moving into the public sector is not a good thing.

We used to run things by using the communities monies to invest in communities, decided by the community.

Now we rely of charity from corporations to invest in communities those funds come with strings attached. Corporations who likely don't pay taxes which could be used by communities without conditions.

We marvel at the gates foundation and it's initiatives blind to the fact their loot should belong to the people for their ends and not the perogative of 1%ers like bill and melinda. The fact the don't pay their fair share is obvious to the communities we live in.

[Cha]

16. they're not happy unless they're whining and moaning about something.. Like they give out awards for

those who can knee jerk and piss and moan the loudest and longest.

[Jesus Malverde]

6. I haven't been lately.

Someone posted pictures of school kids in the seventies. The amazing thing was no one was wearing a single logo, sports, corporate or fashion. I'm all for keeping corporate marketing out of schools, its a sad state of affairs.

[msanthrope]

8. In the 70s, we wore Levi's and Candies....everything old is new again, and a sure sign of

age is when you start having nostalgia for a past that never was.

Go to a preschool...and on a dime, every single kid in there will be able to belt out "Let It Go.":

[babylonsister]

11. Um, there were three channels and no computers. Everyone

has gotten with the program, such as it is. You're living in the past.

[Politicalboi]

2. I hope the 55 million didn't

Break Disney. That's about a weeks worth of receipts for Disney.

[Action_Patrol]

9. Or

They could have done nothing. You honestly don't see anything decent about this?

[babylonsister]

10. Exactly! Thanks! nt

[Jesus Malverde]

13. If these corporations paid their taxes we wouldn't be relying on their charity.

A better headline would be the IRS got a 55 million dollar fine from disney for hiding profits overseas.

[Action_Patrol]

14. Can't wait to be invited to your party

Bring the cucumbers and I'll bring a glass of water for dipping. We will make the dullest nachos ever!

Sometimes it works to just smile, nod and say 'that's nice'.

[Cha]

17. Thank you!

[Initech]

12. WTF!!!! The alphabet is now going to feature characters from Frozen?

[Cha]

18. "There is strong public support for increased federal funding for preschool programs" less from gop

from your link..

"There is strong public support for increased federal funding for preschool programs. Seventy percent of Americans, in a September Gallup poll, said they back efforts to expand publicly-funded pre-K education to every American. Republicans are less enthusiastic, however, with 53 percent supporting such an effort compared to 87 percent of Democrats".

mahalo babylonsistah.. Thanks Obama!