The following is a statement by Ted Lempert, president of Children Now, regarding Gov. Schwarzenegger’s press conference this morning on California’s eligibility to compete for recovery funding for education:

“We are thrilled by the governor’s call for a special session to focus on education. His proposals have merit and are aimed at doing right by kids. But without a connection to more ongoing resources, they have little chance of long-term success. The education community’s call for substantially more resources has merit and is aimed at doing right by kids, but without a connection to strong reforms, it has little chance of success. The obvious answer is to do both—together—soon.”