Report: States continue to support pre-K programs

Despite widespread fiscal distress, leaders of both parties in a majority of states supported high-quality pre-kindergarten investments in fiscal 2011, increasing total funding slightly, by just over 1%, to $5.4 billion, according to an analysis of voluntary state pre-k programs by Pre-K Now, a campaign of the Pew Center on the States.

A news release on the Pew Charitable Trusts website said 26 states and the District of Columbia protected their pre-k investments from budget cuts, according to the nonpartisan annual report, Votes Count: Legislative Action on Pre-K Fiscal Year 2011. State lawmakers of both parties continue to send a clear message that pre-kindergarten is a valued education reform strategy and a smart policy, even in a tough economy.  To read about the report, visit the Pew website, or read the full report.