Challenges Limit Participation in Universal Pre-K Program

When Tanya Gillespie-Lambert attends a local park event in Camden, New Jersey, she carries brochures promoting free preschool. As the director of community and parent involvement in the local public school district, she actively engages with attendees, especially moms with kids, to raise awareness about the service.

Gillespie-Lambert’s team hosts door-knocking events multiple times a year, donning matching blue T-shirts and hats to spread the word about free pre-K. They also utilize billboards, public service announcements, and posters throughout the town to reach a wider audience.

She mentioned in an interview, “I’m still surprised when they’re unaware of it. People often express disbelief, saying, ‘I didn’t know they could start at 3 years old, and it’s free?'” Forty-four states provide some form of free preschool, with states like Colorado and Mississippi expanding their programs. However, even in states claiming to offer “universal” pre-K for 3 and 4-year-olds, many eligible children remain underserved.

Various factors contribute to this shortfall beyond mere awareness. Some states only allocate funding for 10-15 hours of preschool per week, while others face challenges related to affordability, transportation, or opposition from private pre-K providers who receive state funding. Additionally, the shortage of early education staff limits available slots.

While studies highlight the substantial benefits of preschool for young children, conferring advantages in reading, math skills, and socialization crucial for future academic success, it remains expensive for most. Differentiating between preschool and child care, the former emphasizes academics with certified teachers, but its cost often excludes families with limited incomes, barring state support.

Steven Barnett, from the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University, notes, “The interpretation of ‘universal’ varies widely. It’s not a simple fix.” Highlighting the importance of eliminating funding caps and waitlists, Barnett advocates for treating pre-K as automatically available, mirroring first-grade access.

Participation levels in state-funded preschools for 3- and 4-year-olds totaled over 1.6 million in the 2022-2023 academic year, with states reaching 7% of 3-year-olds and 35% of 4-year-olds, according to Barnett’s research. However, enrollment rates drastically differ across states, ranging from a high of 67% in Florida, Iowa, Oklahoma, and West Virginia to single digits in various others.

Notably, six states – Idaho, Indiana, Montana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Wyoming – lack state-funded preschool entirely. The unequal distribution of enrollment underscores disparities in access to early education programs, posing challenges for nationwide educational equity.