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A national report released April 29 said Nevada dropped from 40th to 41st among states in preschool access for 4-year-olds, even though it increased enrollment.
The National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University found states are recovering from COVID-19’s impacts on preschool services, according to Allison Friedman-Krauss, NIEER associate research professor.
NIEER’s annual State of Preschool Yearbook tracks state pre-K program funding and policies.
Nevada was one to increase enrollment in 2023-24. Its Nevada Ready! State Pre-K program enrolled 3,606 children in 2023-24, up from 1,125 from 2022-23. Programs served 9% of its 4-year-olds and 1% of 3-year-olds in state-funded preschool.
A highlight was Nevada began serving a small number of 3-year-olds through funding for the Early Childhood Innovation Literacy Program passed in the 2023 legislative session.
But Friedman-Krauss said there are challenges as local education agencies try to boost early childhood education. Some states are backtracking with federal cuts or policy changes undermining state efforts.
“Last year, Texas passed a new law that got rid of a requirement for teachers that taught in non-public pre-K … to have a bachelor’s degree,” she said.
Colorado and New Mexico outpaced Nevada by serving 70% and 51% of their states’ 4-year-olds and 15% and 21% of 3-year-olds, respectively.
“Nevada is at the lower enrollment but it did have a sizable enrollment increase and in spending,” she said.
Nevada state spending for preschool amounted to $31.8 million, with an added $3.1 million from federal recovery funds. This went up $11.6 million since 2022-23. State spending per child, with federal recovery funds, amounted to $9,703 in 2023-24 and was up by $282 from 2022-23, adjusted for inflation.
The state also reached seven of 10 quality standards benchmarks recommended by NIEER. Many early childhood teachers don’t meet the requirement to have an assistant teacher degree or a bachelor’s degree or the agencies or districts don’t offer staff professional development, Friedman-Krauss said.
She added the report reveals states are rebounding from COVID-19. Nationally, states spent a record $13.6 billion on preschool education, up by almost $2 billion from 2022-23.
Enrollment increased to more than 1.7 million children with 10 states making 20% gains: Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota and Ohio.
But there are challenges, one of which is still being able to provide universal access to families through state-funded preschool.