States slash budgets for preschool programs

States are cutting nearly $350 million from their pre-K programs by next year, undermining years of working to help young children —particularly those in low-income areas — get ready for school. And more cuts are likely once federal stimulus money dries up, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University. 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. Read more online at the USA Today website.