Quality Preschool Funding Survey
April 2011
Stations, the following is
a news announcement. Suggested lead in 3, 2, 1…
(INTRO)
According to The State of
Preschool 2010 survey of state-funded preschool programs,
preschool-age children experienced the impact of the
recession for the second year in a row.
Rutgers University Professor
Steven Barnett, director of the National Institute for
Early Education Research, says state cuts to preschool
funding transformed the recession into a depression
for many young children.
(BARNETT)
IN THE 2009-2010 SCHOOL YEAR,
THE RECESSION'S EFFECTS BECAME FULLY APPARENT DESPITE
FEDERAL EDUCATION AID TO STATES. PRE-K ENROLLMENT BARELY
INCREASED WHILE TOTAL STATE SPENDING AND PER CHILD SPENDING
DECLINED. THE FUNDING SITUATION MAY EVEN GET WORSE,
SINCE FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP STATES WEATHER THE RECESSION
ARE NOW GONE. YET, WHEN STATES DON'T INVEST IN PRE-K,
WE ALL SUFFER, SINCE HIGH QUALITY PRESCHOOL REDUCES
LATER SCHOOL FAILURE AND DROPOUT RATES, CUTS CRIME AND
BOLSTERS THE ECONOMY.
(CLOSE)
Without federal economic
stimulus aid, funding per child would have been even
lower, approaching its lowest level since 2002. For
more information visit www.nieer.org.
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