In this week's Early Ed Watch blog, Lisa Guernsey reports on the latest round of state budget cuts and their effect on pre-kindergarten programs. She notes: In 2010, states spent an average of $700 less per child on preschool than in the previous year—an ominous sign to advocates of state-funded pre-k. Early Ed Watch reported on the funding drop—and some other noteworthy trends—last week when the National Institute for Early Education Research released its annual report, The State of Preschool 2010. The report tracks state-by-state trends in preschool spending, enrollment and quality.
So far, Tennessee has held the line on funding for its celebrated pre-kindergarten program, though it remains to be seen if pre-k can survive another round of state cuts, particularly without an infusion of additional federal stimulus money.
For more on the story, and for a podcast exploring the meaning of these budget cuts with Rutgers University Professor Steve Barnett, visit: Early Ed Watch.