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AFT National President To Unveil New Mexico Preschool Plan

American Federation of Teachers national president Randi Weingarten is scheduled to unveil a plan aimed at expanding early childhood education in New Mexico amid a stalemate over funding.

Weingarten is slated Thursday to join Democratic Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez at a Los Ranchos De Albuquerque preschool to discuss efforts to put pressure on state lawmakers and Gov. Susana Martinez to expand the program.

Under the proposal sponsored by a coalition of groups, a revamped state early education program would include a substitute educator pool, a paid sick leave trust fund and "a scientifically-based" professional development program.

The proposal comes after proponents of expanding early childhood education have clashed with some state lawmakers over tapping into New Mexico's permanent land fund to finance an expansion.

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