Chapter 19: Sound an Investment: An Analysis of Federal Prekindergarten Proposals

There is a growing national movement to provide more early learning opportunities for children. State investments in the education of young children have increased rapidly in recent years, coinciding with increasing evidence of the broad individual and societal benefits of early childhood education.¹ However, substantial disparities have emerged among states in enrollment rates, program standards, and funding levels. For example, three states serve more than 40% of their 4-year-olds, while 12 have no pre-K program at all. Spending varies from more than $10,000 per child to less than $2,500. Some states have no class size or ratio limits at all.²