The National Institute for Early Education Research’s (NIEER) 2024 State of Preschool report found that although state-led initiatives to advance early childhood education (ECE) hit “historic highs” in 2023–24, and preschool participation rebounded from the pandemic, overall progress has been “highly uneven from state to state.”
In the U.S., 1.75 million children (including 1.42 million 4-year-olds and 307,232 3-year-olds) were enrolled in state-funded programs in 2023–24. Still, just 8 percent of 3-year-olds and 37 percent of 4-year-olds were enrolled by states, and most were in non-public programs or not enrolled at all.
“Enrollment reached all-time highs in total children and in the number and percentage of both 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled,” according to the report. “The total number of children enrolled in preschool increased in most states, but states working towards universal pre-K accounted for most of the nation’s progress. Enrollment increased by more than 30,000 children in two states: California and Colorado, both of which have ambitious plans for universal preschool. These two states account for 60 percent of the national increase in enrollment.”
Funding also hit new highs, the report explains.
“States spent more than $13.6 billion (including $257 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding) on preschool, an inflation-adjusted increase of almost $2 billion (17 percent),” according to NIEER. “State spending on preschool increased in all except five states with a preschool program. Six states increased state spending on preschool, adjusted for inflation, by more than $100 million over the prior year: California, Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico and Texas.”
The quality of programming was also found to be uneven, as only five states meet all 10 of NIEER’s quality standards for effective preschool, and access remains an issue as new federal considerations have emerged.
“Preschool access in the United States continues to be highly dependent on your zip code. While states as different as California, Colorado, Mississippi and New Mexico have made remarkable progress in expanding preschool, many states are trailing further and further behind,” said Allison Friedman-Krauss, lead author of the report, in a statement. “With increased uncertainty about federal funding for programs supporting children, including Head Start, states could be left picking up the tab.”
ECE in California
In 2023–24, California’s preschool programs — the California State Preschool Program (CSPP) and California Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Program — enrolled a total of 252,826 students, up 35,847 year-over-year. In all, 10 percent of the state’s 3-year-olds and 48 percent of its 4-year-olds are enrolled in programming.
California spent nearly $4 billion on its two programs in addition to almost $54 million in federal recovery funds, according to the report. Including federal dollars, state funding per child served averaged $15,192, an increase of $515 from 2022–23.
“In 2023–24, state spending per child was $20,248 (including federal recovery funds) for the California State Preschool Program and $11,809 for the Transitional Kindergarten program,” according to the report. “The CSPP met six of 10 quality standards benchmarks and TK met three of 10.”
The quality standards that CSPP met or exceeded, according to NIEER’s checklist, related to early learning and development standards; offering curriculum supports; having specialized teacher training; staff-to-student ratios; having screening and referral protocols; and implementing a continuous quality improvement system.
TK met or exceeded standards for early learning and development standards, curriculum supports and requiring teachers to have a bachelor’s degree.
Ranked by state, California was 13th in access for 4-year-olds (up from 16th the prior year) and 16th in access for 3-year-olds (down from 15th) and in the top five for resources based on spending.
“California leaders should be applauded for prioritizing preschool access. The state is getting closer each year to achieving its goal of universal preschool for 4-year-olds” said W. Steven Barnett, NIEER’s senior director and founder, in a statement. “When states put money into quality preschool programs, they are investing in children’s futures and can expect to see strong returns on their investments. With federal support declining, California must continue to support growth in ECE while funding their programs adequately and setting high standards for quality.”
The report includes a historic overview of ECE in California as well as other data and a look at exemplary examples from other states. View it here.
