Pre-School in Virginia

Virginia’s Preschool Program Grows; Funding Inches Higher

WASHINGTON, March 23— Virginia saw a nearly 50 percent increase in the number of 4-year-olds enrolled in its pre-kindergarten program as well as a small increase in state resources devoted to this critical educational effort, according to The State of Preschool: 2005 State Preschool Yearbook, released today. The annual Yearbook ranks all 50 states on access to, resources for and quality of state preschool initiatives for the 2004-05 school year.

            Virginia’s enrollment of 4-year-olds rose from six percent in 2003-04 to 11 percent in 2004-05, achieving a 21^st place ranking nationally, according to the Yearbook, produced by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) of Rutgers University.   Virginia ranked 16^th nationally for spending per child.  The amount of state spending per child enrolled in pre-kindergarten programs rose slightly from $3,245 allocated in 2003-04 to $3,420.

In terms of quality, Virginia’s pre-kindergarten program met only four of the 10 quality benchmarks cited in the Yearbook.

             “Important program changes increased the numbers of 4-year-olds Virginia can serve, said NIEER Director W. Steve Barnett.  “However, many more children need the advantages of a high-quality preschool if they are to reach their potential.” 

Since NIEER began reporting on state-funded preschool programs in the 2001-02 school year, the national picture has brightened somewhat.  Despite difficult times for state budgets, the Yearbook showed that state spending on preschool nationwide grew by 7.5 percent even after adjusting for inflation.  The 38 states, which now fund programs, serve more than 800,000 3- and 4-year-old children.

“This represents an astounding jump of 16 percent in enrollment during those four years,” said Barnett.  “However, 12 states still have no state-funded preschool programs and, over the four year period, funding shortfalls produced enrollment declines in 11 states. 

“It is clear that few states treat pre-kindergarten as real education to be delivered in good and bad financial times,” he added. “This pattern of expansion and contraction is unfortunate. A stable, highly effective, educational system for young children will remain out of reach as long as policymakers find it acceptable to cut preschool education whenever the economy enters a downturn.”

Research shows that high-quality preschool improves later high school graduation rates and college attendance, employment and earnings, even marriage rates. It lessens future crime and delinquency and unhealthy behaviors like smoking and drug use. In economic terms, high quality preschool returns to the individual and the public up to a $17 on every $1 invested.

 “Given the importance of children’s early years and the contributions of quality preschool education to children’s future success, it is difficult to understand how failure to make these investments can be justified,” Barnett noted.

The full Yearbook is available at www.nieer.org.

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