Preschool Education: A Concept Whose Time Has Come

Overview & Synopsis

As more and more states begin funding pre-kindergarten programs, four-year-olds are becoming an increasingly common sight in the nation's public schools. Since 1965, when fewer than two in 10 four-year-olds attended preschool, the number of such programs has risen to the point where seven in 10 now receive some sort of education before kindergarten. Preschool education--with its patchwork quilt of programs and funding streams--has reached the point where the traditional K-12 public education grades may soon expand to Pre-K-12. Affordability and availability of high-quality programs remains a major barrier to preschool participation. Research indicates that even if targeted programs effectively reached all those for who they are intended, there remains a large group of children that lack access to quality preschool education. This article discusses two approaches to state-funded preschool education. (Contains 4 resources.)