NIEER GA Pre-K Review
Federal Initiative Called for to help States Bolster State Pre-K

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ, April 8— Georgia’s state-funded prekindergarten program ranks high in access, resources and quality, according to The State of Preschool 2008 released today. 

The annual report, produced by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) ranks all 50 states on the percentage of children served and spending per child for 2007-2008.  It also compares the number of quality benchmarks met.

The state pre-k program met eight of 10 quality benchmarks in 2007-2008 and, will meet at least nine in next year’s report, with the 2008-2009 requirement that assistant teachers hold a Child Development Assistant or equivalent certificate.

With 53 percent of the state’s 4-year-olds enrolled in the state’s preschool education program, Georgia ranks 3rd in the nation, following only Oklahoma and Florida. 

The state also ranks in the top half of the states for funding – 15th out of the 38 states providing preschool education.  The state funds $4,249 per child, slightly over the national average of $4,061. 

The state’s program meets eight of NIEER’s 10 quality benchmarks.  But it still doesn’t require teachers to hold a bachelor’s degree.  While the state currently only requires lead teachers to hold an associate’s degree, a large majority of teachers in the program already hold a bachelor’s in part because the state rewards providers with higher funding if teachers have more education.

"Currently, 80 percent of Georgia's Pre-K program teachers hold a BA degree or higher in Early Childhood Education--which is impressive by any state's standards,” said Holly Robinson, commissioner of Bright from the Start, Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning. 

Spending per-child in the state-funded pre-K program declined from $4,354 in 2006-07 to $4,249 in 2007-08. This gives Georgia a resource ranking of 15, placing it close to states such as Alabama, Michigan, and Oklahoma.

In the face of the economic crisis gripping state budget, Georgia has proposed to increase enrollment in the program by 3,000 slots for the 2009-2010 school year.  Georgia’s pre-K program is supported by state lottery funds.

Nationally, the annual report showed there was an impressive expansion in enrollment and spending.  However, it cautioned that the recession may reverse the trend, curtailing early education opportunities for children in lower and middle-income families.              

Across the country, the report showed an overall increase in state-funded programs by more than 108,000 children for 2008, which brought enrollment nationally to more than 1.1 million children in the 38 states that operate programs. Spending on public preschool rose to almost $4.6 billion. Due to the economy and declining state revenues, however, the immediate future of state-funded preschool is uncertain.   In most states, expenditures on pre-K are entirely discretionary and therefore easier to cut than expenditures for K-12 education and other programs.

NIEER Director Steve Barnett said states are considering enrollment cuts, reductions in program standards, and postponement of expansion plans even with the availability of new federal stimulus funds.

The report recommended a new federal initiative to help states increase pre-K enrollment rates and meet higher levels of quality.  Whatever state and federal governments may do to cope with the current economic crisis, Barnett said, “a federal initiative is needed to support early learning and development.

“We propose that the federal government commit to doubling the rate of growth in state pre-K while raising state quality standards so that by the year 2020 all 4-year-olds in America will have access to a good education. To do this, the federal government should match state spending with up to $2,500 for every additional child enrolled in state pre-K programs meeting basic quality standards.  In addition, the federal government should facilitate increased integration of child care, Head Start, and state pre-K.

“If the federal government adopts such a course, all of our children will have a brighter future. If it does not, disparities in early education and school readiness will continue to increase, and another generation will pass without the benefits of quality pre-K for all.”

One of the first pre-K programs in the country to move to universal, Georgia’s program began in 1995. It is delivered in a variety of settings, including schools, Head Start and child-care centers, faith-based organizations, and on military bases. Programs must follow the Georgia Pre-K Content Standards, which are aligned with the state’s kindergarten standards and the early learning standards for infants and toddlers. A strong monitoring system is also in place to ensure that providers are meeting expectations.

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The National Institute for Early Education Research (www.nieer.org),  a unit of the Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, supports early childhood education policy by providing objective, nonpartisan information based on research. NIEER is supported through grants from The Pew Charitable Trusts and others