New Report: What’s The Latest On Pre-K In U.S. Cities?

Photos: NIEER\CityHealth NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) and CityHealth released a new white paper, An Updated Look at Pre-K In Large American Cities, identifying cities that are leading the way on preschool through effective leadership, sustainable funding streams, and improved access and quality. “Decades of research show that high-quality early learning programs can positively impact children’s learning, development, and health,” said Katrina Forrest, Executive Director of CityHealth. “Therefore, we strongly believe that access to a high-quality early learning program is one of the best investments a city can make.” The new report identified the following leaders and trends among the three-fourths (58) of the 75 largest American cities that offer pre-K programming to at least 30% of their four-year-olds: Local leadership is necessary to create an early education vision and strategy, build momentum, design a program or enhance the quality of existing ones, and develop funding mechanisms. Cities recognized for leadership include San Antonio and San Francisco. Access to high-quality pre-K programs has been growing slowly but steadily across the U.S. In 2023-2024, 37% of 4-year-olds were enrolled in state-funded pre-K. In many places where the need for pre-K is not being fully met by the state, cities are leading the way. Albuquerque, Philadelphia, Multnomah County (Oregon), Washington DC, and New York City were specifically highlighted in the report as leaders in expanding access with local revenue. Adequate and sustainable funding streams help ensure the longevity and quality of a pre-K program. In 2023-2024, 20 of the nation’s largest cities (including Denver, San Antonio, and Seattle) used local dollars to fund and implement local pre-K programs. Several cities also supplement state pre-K funding to enhance quality and support curriculum implementation. Well-designed programs put in place research-based quality standards related to teacher preparation and professional development, the requirement of health screenings, class size limits, supports for curriculum implementation, and the use of learning standards. In 2023-2024, 26 city pre-K programs met 9 or 10 of the quality standards benchmarks recommended by NIEER; 10 met 8 NIEER benchmarks; and 35 met 4-7 benchmarks. Washington, DC and Multnomah County were specifically called out in the report for providing funding to ensure pre-K teachers have the same salary and benefits as elementary school teachers. Some cities, such as Boston, Philadelphia, and Seattle, have funded formal program evaluations to ensure that pre-k funds are used effectively. CityHealth, an initiative of the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, provides cities with evidence-based policy solutions and practical tools to improve the health and well-being of their residents. CityHealth provides a framework for advancing policies using a medal rating system to assess their progress and encourage improvement in public health outcomes. Since 2017, CityHealth has partnered with the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), a nonpartisan research center, to conduct research on prekindergarten (pre-K) efforts operated at the city level, to promote its High-Quality, Accessible Pre-K policy solution. “Cities have powerful tools to support the healthy development of young children from investing in early learning to advancing policies that center families’ needs,” said GG Weisenfeld, lead author of the report. “By adopting research-based policies that prioritize children and families, cities can create the conditions for every child to thrive.”