All parents hope their child will start school ready for success. Unfortunately, not every parent can find the high-quality early learning opportunity that sets their child up for success.

Earlier today the U.S. Department of Education released a new report outlining the unmet need for high-quality early learning programs in America. Roughly 6 in 10 four-year-olds are not enrolled in publicly funded preschool programs, and even fewer are enrolled in the highest quality programs.

Unmet Need

While both states and the federal government invest in early learning, these efforts have fallen short of what is needed to ensure that all children can access a high-quality early education that will prepare them for success.

Significant new investments in high-quality early education are necessary to help states, local communities, and parents close the readiness gap that exists between disadvantaged children and their more advantaged peers.

For Latino children, the unmet need is especially great. While Latinos are the fastest growing and largest minority group in the United States, making up a quarter of 3- and 4-year-olds, Latinos demonstrate the lowest preschool participation rates of any major ethnicity or race.

And while most children who have access to preschool attend moderate-quality programs, African- American children and children from low-income families are the most likely to attend low- quality preschool programs and are the least likely to attend high-quality preschool programs.

Source: blog.ed.gov

How's Your Community Doing?
Check Out it's
Community Vital Signs

Ge Appliances 'Elf-Gineers' Adapt Toys For Disabled Children

Customized toys are expensive to buy, so they made more than 100 for Louisville area children.GE Appliances engineer Steven Budelsky is among those who made mechanical and electrical changes to...more

Community Foundation Grant Supports 'Precious Cargo'

A $20,000 grant from the Clinton County Community Foundation allowed the IDC to fund its "Precious Cargo" van purchase in 2024.Children ages 3 to 5 years of age are being transported from their homes...more

Preschool/Theater Reopens After Rubble Cleared From Car Crash

Creative Avenues, a combined theater and preschool opened its doors back up today after rubble and debris were cleared from a car crash on November 20.Staff from the building worked alongside law...more

How Children'S Lighthouse Stands Out: Dr. Kristi Smith'S Visionary Curriculum

If you've got a 3-year-old in your life who wants to go to preschool, you're in luck: Children's Lighthouse is now open for business in New York City, the New York Daily News reports. The...more

Former Dutch Bros Grants Pass Hq Earmarked As An Early Education Center

Former Dutch Bros Grants Pass HQ Earmarked As An Early Education Center.Dutch Bros HQ donated their former HQ in Grants Pass to a preschool that operates a Children's Museum.The Oregon Center for...more

Center Presented
Foundation: Portland Foundation

Parents in Portland, Indiana, will soon have a new place to send their kids to preschool. A $4.3 million renovation of the former Judge Haynes Elementary School has turned it into a...more

West Marin Preschool Gets $100K Grant
Foundation: Marin Community Foundation

Parents in Portland, Indiana, will soon have a new place to send their kids to preschool. A $4.3 million renovation of the former Judge Haynes Elementary School has turned it into a...more

Enjoy One of the Many Programs at Npl

If you're looking for a fun way to spend your summer, the Newton Public Library is the place for you. The library is holding a number of free events in July, including a cartoon workshop, an...more

Governor Roy Cooper Visits Wilmington Preschool, Reiterates Importance of Funding Early ...

"When you're talking about Wilmington, you could take that $625 million and build a brand new Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, invest $100 million to get the PFAS chemicals out of the water, and still...more

State Grant Funds More Preschool Seats in Haverhill

Haverhill Public Schools and its partners, Community Action Inc., the Haverhill YMCA and Urban Village Montessori will share in $250,000 in grant money.Six participating school districts will be...more

Moved Permanently

The document has moved here.