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ByChristineArmario The Associated Press LOS ANGELES Enrollment in state pre-kindergarten programs inched up slightly last year, but there's been little change in the overall percentage of children par- ticipating in the programs, according to a national study on early education released Monday. The report found wide disparities among states. "At last year's pace it will be another 75 years before state pre-K enrolls even all kids in low-income fami- lies," said Steven Barnett, director of the National In- stitute for Early Education Research, which conducts the annual review on the state of pre-K. Early education is widely recognized as an impor- tant component to helping ensure children from all backgrounds enter school ready to learn. The Obama administration has made it a centerpiece of its educa- tion policy, with the presi- dent announcing $1 billion in public-private spend- ing on programs for young learners last year. Bythenumbers Total enrollment rose by 8,535 students in the 2013- 14 school year. But that in- crease follows a loss of 4,000 seats following post- recession state budget cuts in 2012-13. Overall, 29 percent of 4-year-olds were enrolled in a state-funded pre-K, a percentage that's changed little since 2010. The num- bers don't reflect partici- pation in the federal Head Start or special education programs. There were some positive signsinthereport:Totalstate funding for pre-K programs increased by more than $116 million in the 40 states and District of Columbia that of- fered pre-K throughout the 2013-14 school year. And sev- eral states made inroads in meeting more of the 10 benchmarks considered key to a quality program. "Even though we clearly have work to do on the state and national level, this re- port confirms we're moving in the right direction and creating the building blocks for every child to enter kin- dergarten prepared," U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said. Some states shine Florida, Oklahoma, Ver- mont and the District of Columbia topped the rank- ings in access — each served more than 75 percent of all 4-year-olds. Five other states enrolled more than half: Georgia, Iowa, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The report highlighted Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio for significant expan- sions. Mississippi, which previously did not have a pre-K program, invested $3 million to enroll nearly 2,000 children. Meanwhile, 11 states op- erated programs serving fewer than 10 percent of 4-year-olds and 10 states had no program at all. The disparities have in- creased over time. "It matters even more what zip code you live in," Barnett said. Barnett noted that the ex- pansions have been largely bipartisan, with both Dem- ocrat and Republican gov- ernors championing early education. Still, initiatives like Obama's 2013 proposal to provide universal pre- school access through a fed- eral-state partnership have floundered in Congress. Advocates cite studies Advocates of early educa- tion point to studies show- ing participating can im- prove long-term academic outcomes and even a child's future adult earnings. A 2003 study by Univer- sity of Kansas researchers found that by age 3, children from privileged families have heard 30 million more words than children from low-income backgrounds. A report published by Univer- sity of California professors last year found that Latino children already trail their white peers in language and communication skills when they enter preschool around 2 or 3 years of age. "Quality pre-K is an im- portant piece of the puzzle in reducing these early dis- parities," said Bruce Fuller, co-author of the University of California study. The National Institute for Early Education Research has identified 10 indicators considered hallmarks of a quality program, including a teacher with a bachelor's de- gree and specialized training in early education. The Insti- tute of Medicine and the Na- tional Research Council re- cently recommended that all pre-K teachers have a four- year college degree in the field. Fifty-seven percent of state pre-K programs re- quired a bachelor's degree, up two points from the pre- vious year. Two of the states enroll- ing the largest number of children — Texas and Flor- ida — met less than half the indicators. Overall, more than half a million chil- dren — or 40 percent of na- tionwide enrollment — par- ticipated in programs with fewer than 50 percent of the quality standards. EDUCATION En ro ll me nt i n st at e pr e- K inches up; disparities remain ERICGAY—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE Pre-K students play with educational toys at the South Education Center in San Antonio. ERIC RISBERG — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE A row of Google self-driving Lexus cars is seen at a Google event outside the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. By Justin Pritchard The Associated Press LOS ANGELES Google Inc. revealed Monday that its self-driving cars have been in 11 minor traffic ac- cidents since it began ex- perimenting with the tech- nology six years ago. The company released the number after The As- sociated Press reported that Google had notified California of three colli- sions involving its self- driving cars since Sep- tember, when reporting all accidents became a le- gal requirement as part of the permits for the tests on public roads. The leader of Google's self-driving car project wrote in a web post all the accidents have been minor — "light damage, no inju- ries" —and happened over 1.7 million miles in which either the car or a person required to be behind the wheel was driving. "Not once was the self- driving car the cause of the accident," wrote Google's Chris Urmson. "Cause" is a key word: Like Delphi Automotive, a parts supplier which suf- fered an accident in Octo- ber with one of its two test cars, Google says it was not at fault. Delphi sent AP an acci- dent report showing its car was hit, but Google has not made public any records, so both enthusiasts and critics of the emerging technology have only the company's word on what happened. This lack of transpar- ency troubles critics who want the public to be able to monitor the rollout of a technology that its own de- velopers acknowledge re- mains imperfect. John Simpson, privacy project director of the non- profit Consumer Watch- dog, notes that Google's ul- timate goal is a car without a steering wheel or pedals. This could prevent a per- son from taking over if a car loses control, making it "even more important that the details of any accidents be made public — so peo- ple know what the heck's going on." Five other companies withtestingpermitstoldthe APtheyhadnoaccidents.In all, 48 cars are licensed to test on state roads. That left Google, which has outfitted 23 Lexus SUVs with driverless tech- nology. Asked last week whether its cars suffered the other three accidents, it acknowledged "a hand- ful of minor fender-bend- ers, light damage, no in- juries, so far caused by human error and inatten- tion." On Monday, Urmson posted a more complete accounting online, in which he also described in- stances in which Google's cars avoided hitting other cars or bicyclists as they drove on streets near the company's Silicon Valley headquarters. Go og le a ck no wl ed ge s 11 se lf -d ri vi ng c ar a cc id en ts AUTOMOBILES The Associated Press RENO,NEV. Lahontan cut- throat trout are success- fully reproducing in the lower Truckee River in what experts are calling a major milestone in efforts to restore the population once on the brink of ex- tinction. Last year, cutthroats raised from a strain of a remnant population in the mountains near the Ne- vada-Utah line spawned upstream from Pyramid Lake for the first time in nearly 80 years. Now, U.S. Fish and Wild- life Service officials have documented about 1,000 newly hatched baby cut- throats swimming in the river after a second spawn this spring. They suspect as many as 45,000 may have hatched in recent weeks. "We were able to doc- ument successful repro- duction," said Lisa Heki, complex manager for the Lahontan National Fish Hatchery. The Nevada state fish, Lahontan cutthroats were listed as an endangered species in 1970 and reclas- sified as threatened five years later. "This is a wild reproduc- tive event. The fish are do- ing it on their own once again," she told the Reno Gazette-Journal last week. The lower Truckee River flows out of the north end of Lake Tahoe traveling about 100 miles through downtown Reno before reaching Pyramid Lake. A successful spawn in the river about 30 miles east of Reno is particu- larly noteworthy during a fourth year of drought that has significantly low- ered water levels, Heki said. She said it suggests the fish population has the necessary resiliency to be self-sustaining. "Finally reaching this goal is awesome," said Al- bert John, fisheries direc- tor for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. "If they can reproduce, that's been the goal of the tribe since the 1970s." FISH Threatened trout return to Nevada's Truckee River *Express Oil Change $29.95 + Waste Fee *Smog Inspection $29.95 + Certificate Open 7 days a week 8am to 5pm RED BLUFF AUTO CLINIC 938Washington St. 530-727-9300 530-727-9301 Joe Khoury Manager redbluffautoclinic@yahoo.com Red Bluff TheDailyNewswill feature a special section of photos and write-ups on over 90 "StudentsofDistinction" from middle and high schools across the county. This project has been created in cooperation with the Tehama County Department of Education. Selections of students featured will be made by schools and Teachers. The supplement will be published as a special section of the newspaper and as a digital page-turn online edition on www.redbluffdailynews.com through May of 2016! To sponsor a student's photo and accomplishments is just $59 for 1 sponsorship and $55 each for multiples. Local businesses, professionals, educators, local citizens: All are welcome to support Tehama County's most accomplished students, and demonstrate support of local education in the process. Sponsor Deadline: Friday, May 22 Sponsors will be identified in a 3" tall by 1 column wide space at the bottom of each student salute. This special will appear in the full run of the Daily News on Thursday, May 28, 2015 Daily News advertising representatatives can help you decide what to say. Limited opportunity to support students from individual schools. For further information, contact your Daily News advertising representative or Nadine Souza at Honoring Outstanding Tehama County Students (530) 527-2151 advertise@ redbluffdailynews.com For ads starting May 30 or earlier! ONLY available by phone to our Nor-Cal Classified Call Center 1-800-855-667-2255 JustaskforNo-ClipCouponpricing! CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS ONLY! Sorry, no refunds for early ad cancellation at this pricing! The aMAYzing NO-CLIP COUPON Private Party Classified Liner Ads Minimum 3 lines, 5 days Rental liner ads Minimum 3 lines, 5 days Garage and Yard Sale ads Minimum 2-day run Print edition + e-edition + website www.redbluffdailynews.com 50% OFF REGULAR PRICING American Style - It's all about the flavor! www.kahunasmongolianbbq.com 2151 Market St. • Redding • (530) 244-4200 $ 2 OFF Regularly Priced Adult Meals (Dine-In Only) One per table. Not valid on to-go, seniors or children's meals. Not valid with other offers. Present for discount. Kahunas Mongolian BBQ is where you are able to create your own stir-fry by choosing your ingredients and sauces. Interact with our grill warriors as they prepare your meal right in front of you on our 48 inch round Mongolian Grill. Kahunas has something for everyone, from vegetarians to meat lovers and even gluten free diets! | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015 4 B