California

This is pie in the sky. And why is he getting all this publicity when only 75 people turn out to hear him bombast? The intelligent question to ask is why should California put any more money into a school system that's failing. Isn't that like trying to ignore the fact the potatoes are burned and loading them with butter and sour cream anyway?

SAN JOSE
San Francisco Chronicle

Reiner Stumps for Preschool Initiative Prop. 82 Would Tax Wealthy to Finance Statewide Program

Rob Reiner brought his pitch for universal preschool to San Jose on Thursday, arguing that the June ballot measure he's leading is the solution to the crisis of California's failing schools.

"This has to happen. Our economy, the future of this state depends on whether we take this step," the actor, director and activist told about 75 people gathered in a downtown movie theater for a meeting of the Commonwealth Club Silicon Valley. "Our K-12 system ... is failing right now, and that is disastrous. We've got a big problem, and a big problem calls for a big solution."

Reiner's solution is Proposition 82, an initiative that would levy a 1.7 percent tax on California's highest wage earners -- individuals making more than $400,000 a year and families earning more than $800,000 -- to fund one year of preschool for all 4-year-olds by 2010.

In his first public speech since the measure qualified for the ballot in January, Reiner addressed criticisms of the proposition, arguing it is appropriate to tax the rich for a program that would serve all California families because the "investor class" -- fewer than 1 percent of taxpayers, himself included -- has the responsibility to invest in the state's future.

He also discounted arguments that public funding for preschool should be targeted to poor and minority children who stand to benefit the most. While he acknowledged that at-risk children would experience the greatest gains, he said high-quality preschool can help all children.

During a talk that ranged from serious to breezy, Reiner quoted from some of his movies, noted his ample waistline and not-so-generous hairline, and shared his Oscar picks -- he thinks "Brokeback Mountain" will take best picture but that "Good Night, and Good Luck" should.

After a bungled introduction in which two of Reiner's best-known films were referred to as "This is a Spinal Tap" and "When Henry Met Sally," Reiner quipped, "Sally would be very happy to know she not only met Harry but met Henry. She met a lot of people."

But the topic of the day was preschool, and Reiner showed himself as comfortable discussing the finer points of policy as Hollywood blockbusters.

Some studies have shown that the advantages of preschool wear off by third grade, and others have linked preschool with increased behavioral problems. Advocates of universal preschool, however, argue that such studies fail to differentiate between quality preschool and mediocre child care centers.

Reiner said various types of existing preschool programs -- including center-based, school-based, faith-based, public and private -- would be eligible to apply for public funding under Prop. 82, but he said raising the quality of all preschools would be key.

The initiative would require that all teachers at preschools receiving public money have a bachelor's degree within eight years. Training requirements for aides would also be increased.
But Reiner said preschool curricula would need to be more flexible than the state-mandated K-12 curricula, and he said parents still would have a choice of different types of programs.

Prop. 82, which would create a constitutional guarantee to a year of publicly funded preschool, is intended to raise the percentage of 4-year-olds enrolled in preschool from 47 to 70 percent.
Reiner said enrolling more children in preschool will increase their school readiness and help them read at grade level while reducing the money the state spends on remedial education, crime and social services.

Supporters include the state's teachers unions, the San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles Chambers of Commerce, San Francisco financier Warren Hellman and Netflix Inc. Chief Executive Officer Reed Hastings. Opponents include Gap Inc. founder Don Fisher, the California Business Roundtable and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose children attended preschool with Reiner's in Los Angeles, remains neutral.