Gov Rick “Jobs Jobs Jobs” Scott to reject money he applied for

The state submitted an application for up to $100 million Wednesday. The early learning grants are part of President Barack Obama’s Race to the Top program. […]

Scott issued a statement saying the state would not accept the money if it came with requirements that include any state funding or future legislative action.

Scott’s protestations aside, Florida could benefit from new investments in early childhood education. According to the National Institute for Early Education Research’s State of Preschool 2010 report, “Florida has one of the nation’s highest percentages of 4-year-olds in preschool programs…but state and local spending on those programs is among the worst in the nation.”