Associated Press Release
By PHILIP ELLIOTT and JOSH LEDERMAN
DECATUR, Ga. (AP) -- President Barack Obama says he wants to make preschool available to all 4-year-olds, a vast expansion of existing early childhood education programs.
He says that education has to start at the earliest possible age.
Obama spoke Thursday after touring a childhood education center in Decatur, Ga. Following a meeting with children and preschool teachers, he says, quote, "If you're looking for a good bang for your education buck, this is it right here."
The president is traveling for a second day following his State of the Union address, pressing initiatives for his second term.
The White House has not said how much such a program would cost. Details would be in its upcoming budget next month.
Obama's plan was not well-received by Republicans in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives.
Associated Press Release
MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) -- President Barack Obama has arrived in Georgia and is expected to visit an early childhood learning center in the Atlanta area.
Air Force One touched down at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta shortly before 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
School officials in Decatur say the president will visit the College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center Thursday in Decatur, just east of Atlanta.
The visit comes just days after Obama said in his State of the Union speech that he wants to work with states to make high-quality early education available to every child in America.
Obama singled out Georgia in his speech as a state that made early childhood education a priority.
