Susan K. Urahn Director of Education The Pew Charitable Trusts Governors Forum on Quality Preschool December 15, 2003 Orlando, Florida TheRole of State Leaders in Advancing Quality Preschool

A significant percentage of children are not proficient in reading in fourth, eighth and twelfth grade Percentage of children below proficient (NAEP, 2002) NAEP National Average Reading Children who start behind too often stay behind THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS

In 2003, the percentages of children not proficient in reading in fourth, eighth and twelfth grade increased Percentage of children below proficient (NAEP, 2003) NAEP National Average Reading Children who start behind too often stay behind THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS

Reading Achievement (t-score) Did not know letters at kindergarten entry Knew letters at kindergarten entry Children who do not know the alphabet when they enter kindergarten are behind in reading at the end of first grade National Average Children who start behind too often stay behind THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS

49 percent of children who do not know the alphabet as they enter kindergarten are middle class or higher Percent of beginning kindergartners who do not know their letters Socioeconomic Status (SES) 49 percent 51 percent Too many children from all families are not ready for school… THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS

As children enter kindergarten about one-third of middle class children do not know the alphabet about one-quarter of upper-middle class children do not know the alphabet Percent of beginning kindergartners who do not know their letters Socioeconomic Status (SES) Too many children from all families are not ready for school… THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS

Reading Achievement Scale Score The gap in reading skills between middle class children and their more affluent peers is greater than the gap between middle class and poor children Too many children from all families are not ready for school… Socioeconomic Status (SES) 4 point difference 6 point difference Lowest SES Middle SES Highest SES THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS

Early Childhood Initiative Allegheny County, Pennsylvania <1% 21% <2% 23% THE PEWCHARITABLE TRUSTS PreK has immediate benefits for kids and schools

Chicago Child-Parent Centers Developmental Outcomes Comparison GroupPre-kindergarten Group Juvenile Arrest by Age 18 Grade Retention by Age 15 Special Education by Age 18 Child Maltreatment by Age 17 THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS Children have short term and long term benefits

Early education enrollment, by mother’s employment THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS Families with a parent at home choose to give their kids prek as much as families with all working parents

Too few child care classrooms provide quality care Average ECERS Scores in four different studies Good Quality Excellent Quality THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS

Participation in state funded pre-K Number of children THE PEWCHARITABLE TRUSTS States have dramatically increased investments in prek

Total state spending in state funded prek Dollars (millions) 700 1,700 2,500 THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS Many more children are getting access to prek

Too many states invest too little ( ) THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS More than $6000 $ $5999 $1 - $2999 $0 Data not available

Only two states serve over half of their 4 year olds ( ) THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS More than 40% % 0% Data not available %