Advancing Quality Pre-K in All States

National School Boards Association

Sara WatsonThe Pew Charitable Trusts

swatson@pewtrusts.org(202) 552-2134

Speaking of child outcomes… meet Owen Hernandez

Owen is a loveable four year old bursting with a drive to learn.

Attending a dual language pre-k in Texas was his first school experience.

A grocery store

At the beginning of the year, Owen could not write his name and his representational drawings were difficult to identify. During circle time he talked to the teacher as if he was the only child there.  He stood up and explored the classroom.  While walking in a line to the cafeteria, he wandered off into the yard.

Later, he could use drawings to represent places and things.

Pre-k helped improve his English and Spanish and taught him how to learn in a school setting.

Post-Assessment: What did you see at the fire station?

Advancing Quality Pre-K for All

In 2001, Pew Charitable Trusts started its initiative “Advancing Quality Pre-Kindergarten for All,” to encourage quality early learning opportunities for all 3- and 4-year-olds

Public education campaigns in over half the states

2004 14 states increased funding by $200 million 2005 26 states $600 million 2006 31 states $450 million

Among legislatures which increased funding for pre-k in 2006,

15 have Democratic majorities, 10 have Republican majorities and 6 have split legislatures

Legislative Action on Pre-K Budgets

FY 2006-2007

ID

AZ

UT

MT

WY

NM

CO

AL

FL

SC

TN

KY

INOH

NC

SD

KS

NE

MN

WI

IA

IL

MO

AR

MS

OK

ND

OR

CA NV

WA

TX

WV

PA

M E

VA

NY

LA

GA

MIRI

VT N

H

M D

CT

HI

D E

N J

AK

M A

Increased Investment in Pre-K

Anticipated Increase in Pre-K

Flat Investment in Pre-K

No State Pre-K ProgramSource: Pre-K Now

Exciting Progress in 2006

Tennessee - increased high quality pilot by 57%

Texas – included children of military families

California – no to ballot initiative but then $100 M new money

New York – 4 years ago, governor tried to eliminate program. Now $50 M of increased funding

Massachusetts – legislature passed pre-k for all 4’s unanimously, but vetoed by governor. They’ll be back.

Louisiana – yes Louisiana – increased funding by $1.5 M

Percentage of Four-Year-Olds Attending Pre-K 2004-2005

Source: National Institute for Early Education Research

> 50%

20-49%

10-19%

1-9%

0%

Pre-K for All In place: Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma As a goal: Illinois, New York, Tennessee, West Virginia Use school funding formula: Maine, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Vermont, District of

Columbia, West Virginia

Targeted Programs 26 states have child-based eligibility requirements 3 states have district-based eligibility requirements Most common requirement is income-based Other risk factors : low birth weight, English Language Learner, single parent, teen

parents, in state custody, disability Use school funding formula: Colorado, Michigan, Maryland, Nebraska (2007),

Texas

Source: Pre-K Now

Revenue Sources for State Pre-K Programs 2006

General Revenues only

Tobacco Settlement + General Revenues

Cigarette Tax +

General Revenues

Gaming Revenues only

No State-Funded Pre-K Program

Lottery +

General Revenues

Beer Tax +

General Revenues

Lottery Revenues only

Source: Pre-K Now

ID

AZ

UT

MT

WY

NM

CO

AL

FL

SC

TN

KY

INOH

NC

SD

KS

NE

MN

WI

IA

IL

MO

AR

MS

OK

ND

OR

CA NV

WA

TX

WV

PA

M E

VA

NY

LA

GA

MIRI

VT N

H

M D

CT

HI

D E

N J

AK

M A

Quality Standards (NIEER)Standard No. of states 2004-2005

(out of 38 with state prek)

Staff-child ratio 1:10 37Max class size 20 35Teacher has specialized training in pre-k

35At least 15 hours/year in-service training

33Site visits for monitoring

30Comprehensive early learning standards

27Vision, hearing and at least 1 support service 27Teacher has BA 25At least one meal 23Asst teacher has CDA or equivalent 12

What we don’t mean by quality pre-k for all

High pressure

Low quality/only care about access

Academic only

Prek for all = same size fits all

Prek for all = every single child right now

Only 4’s

Only in schools

Ignore parents

Mandatory

Silver bullet

What we do mean

Fun – “can I go to pre-K?”

Improving quality AND access (TN)

Social/emotional development plus wrap around

Core for all plus more for at-risk

Prek for all = Goal of all, reach most, over time (Arkansas)

3’s and 4’s

Diverse settings, parent choice (NY)

Support parents too

Absolutely voluntary

Essential but not sufficient – children need other supports as well (Illinois)

What the Trusts’ initiative offers to states in the network

Infrastructure of organizations Technical assistance and financial support Help with communications and messages Peer network Research including state data Help in engaging key constituencies (business,

law enforcement, K-12, seniors, physicians, media)

National grantee partners supporting the states

Committee for Economic Development (www.ced.org)

Education Law Center (www.startingat3.org)

Education Writers Association (www.ewa.org)

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids (www.fightcrime.org)

Hechinger Institute on Education and the Media (www.tc.columbia.edu/hechinger)

National Association of Elementary School Principals (www.naesp.org)

National Conference of State Legislatures (www.ncsl.org)

National Institute for Early Education Research (www.nieer.org)

National School Boards Association (www.nsba.org)

Pre-K Now (www.preknow.org)

Context for your work in the states Delighted you’re interested in pre-k School boards essential to convey importance of pre-k for

education AND to help ensure good implementation Each state has existing pre-k campaign and leaders to work with

each national grantee Strive for a unified message, collaborating sometimes in public,

sometimes behind the scenes Commitment to diverse delivery systems, but all must meet high

standards to ensure children get a quality education Not taking from one children’s system to support another Pew funds to NSBA support informing decision makers, not

direct advocacy Welcome aboard!