Governor Bentley to Chair Education Workforce Committee During NGA Winter Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Governor Robert Bentley will join 45 other governors in Washington, D.C. this weekend during the National Governors Association (NGA) winter conference. This year, Governor Bentley will serve as chair of the NGA Education and Workforce Committee.

“Throughout my term as Governor, I have advocated for a strong foundation for children with Alabama’s high quality First Class Pre-K program. This year, I have the great opportunity to chair the Education and Workforce Committee, and am very excited to help lead this session,” Governor Bentley said. “Every child deserves the opportunity to have a high quality education. I am looking forward to working with other governors as we make early childhood education a priority and continue to advocate for state control and federal support in education decisions, so that all our students can achieve their goals and prosper as adult citizens.”

Discussion on early childhood education will open this year’s conference. Governor Bentley and co-chair Washington Governor Jay Inslee will lead the session. Also, joining the governors will be actress and early education advocate Jennifer Garner. She is actively involved with the children’s education nonprofit organization Save the Children. Alabama has seen tremendous success in early childhood education through the high quality First Class Pre-K program. Governor Bentley will share results proven in Alabama’s Pre-K students and his plan to continue expanding the reach of Pre-K. The Governor will also discuss integrating successful components of the Pre-K model through the third grade. Directly following the session, the governors will meet to adopt their new policy positions, including one that makes early education a priority.

Governor Bentley will meet with other state governors to discuss best practices around thwarting cyber-attacks as part of NGA Chair Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe’s initiative, Meet the Threat: States Confront the Cyber Challenge. Governors will also hold two governors-only sessions, including a discussion on critical infrastructure and natural resource conservation as well as one on health care reform.

President Donald Trump will meet with the governors Monday morning. Governor Bentley and other state governors will also further discuss health care reform with Congressional Republicans and Democrats.

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