The State Pre-School Gap Continues To Grow
From Forbes.com
A new study finds that the percentage of preschoolers enrolled in state-funded programs is at a record high, but the actual number of enrolled students is below pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, the gap between states when it comes to access to quality early childhood education has become wider than ever.
The study by the National Institute for Early Education Research also finds that state spending for pre-school is at an all-time high (adjusted for inflation) at $13.37 billion. However, the researchers find that only nine states meet or exceed the minimum amount of spending needed to provide high-quality full-day programs for 4-year-olds currently enrolled. Nationally, the researchers calculate that a whopping $33 billion would be needed to bring every state up to speed.
Nationally, preschool enrollment has bounced back from the major dip a few years ago. The study finds wide gaps for enrollment. Only four states (Oklahoma, Iowa, Florida, and West Virginia) enroll more than 80% of four-year-olds, while six states enroll none at all. When it comes to three-year-olds, only two states serve more than one third of the children.
There’s also a large gap in quality. The study looked ten items for a check of program quality. Only five states checked off all ten. Only 31 states require a bachelor’s degree for pre-school teachers, and only 19 require a Child Development Associate degree for aids. Eight states checked fewer than half of the ten quality markers—including the three states that serve the most children—California, Florida, and Texas.
These findings come as the pre-school age population in the U.S. is shrinking. Just eight years ago, the 0-4 age bracket held almost 20 million children; the 2022 number was 18 and a half million. The government projects that number to grow.