New report highlights stagnation for early childhood programs
Photo by Michael Verhoef via Flickr Creative Commons
As the early childhood education community celebrates President Barack Obama’s campaign for universal preschool, a new report shows stagnation in the number of low-income children enrolled in Pre-K between 2009 and 2013.
Called “Subprime Learning”, the report by the New America Foundation delves into various factors of the lives of low-income children in 3rd grade or younger, including education, health, family well-being and poverty. It also looked at state and federal funding for early childhood.
Even in states where quality preschool exists, the report found that not enough children have access. In 2009, 40 percent of children were enrolled in publicly-funded preschool nationwide. according to the report. Four years later, that number had increased by only 2 percent, to 42 percent.
Lisa Guernsey, who directs the Early Education Initiative at New America Foundation and authored the report, said by comparison in China access increased by 14 percent in three years.
She said policy initiatives to help more children access quality preschool and help families move out of poverty “are moving slow.”
According to the report, more lower-middle income families where two parents work are registering for subsidized or free lunch. In 2013, 48 percent of students from preschool to 3rd grade qualify for reduced or free lunch. For a family of four to