States slash prekindergarten programs as economy falters, budgets bleed

States slash pre-K programs as budgets bleed

ATLANTA — States across the country are cutting hundreds of millions from their prekindergarten budgets.

The National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University says states are slashing nearly $350 million from their pre-K programs by next year and more cuts are likely on the horizon once federal stimulus money dries up.

The reductions mean fewer slots for children, teacher layoffs and even fewer services for needy families who can’t afford high-quality private preschool programs.

Thirty-eight states had pre-K programs serving more than 1.2 million 3- and 4-year-olds as of last year.

____

Online:

National Institute for Early Education Research: nieer.org/

Pre-K Now: www.preknow.org