The importance of socialization, proper nutrition, and education during early childhood is difficult to overstate. Multiple studies have linked enrollment in quality early childhood education programs with a greater chance for success, not only academically during school years, but also later in life — reducing the likelihood of poverty, unemployment, and criminality.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced access to pre-K programs across the United States, school districts are beginning to reopen. Annual pre-K spending in the United States totals $6,329 per pupil on average, and an estimated 46.2% of 3- and 4-year-old children are enrolled in preschool. These, and other key measures of investment, accessibility, and quality vary considerably by state, however.
Using data from the National Institute of Early Childhood Education Research and the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. created an index consisting of a state’s pre-K spending, enrollment rates, assistance for needy families, fourth grade reading and math proficiency, and certain quality standards, to rank the overall quality of early childhood education programs.
Early childhood education ranks worse in Florida than it does in most other states, partially due to inadequate funding. According to NIEER, it costs a minimum of $11,186 a year per student to fund full-day, high-quality preschool in Florida. However, due in part to half-day programs, Florida spends just $2,401 per pre-K student annually, one of the largest funding gaps among states.
Florida has a Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program that provides pre-K access for all 4-year-olds in the state. As a result, 72% of all 4-year old children in Florida are enrolled in a state funded pre-K program. However, there are no state-funded programs for 3-year-olds.
Data on state, local, and federal spending on preschool per child by state, as well as the number quality standard benchmarks that each state’s preschool program met (out of 10) in the 2019-20 school year came from the NIEER’s State of Preschool 2020 Yearbook. Data on the percentage of 3- and 4-year-old children enrolled in preschool came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. Data on fourth grade reading and math proficiency is based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Data on the ratio of children receiving Child Care and Development Fund payments for every 100 children 18 and under living in poverty in 2019 was calculated using data from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. These are the states with the best and worst early education.
Rank | Geography | Total annual per-child annual pre-K spending ($) | 3-and 4 year-olds enrolled in pre-K (%) | NIEER public pre-K quality standards (out of 10) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New Jersey | 14,103 | 64.0 | 8.0 |
2 | Vermont | 7,821 | 68.3 | 7.0 |
3 | Rhode Island | 10,650 | 47.9 | 10.0 |
4 | Delaware | 7,277 | 53.0 | 9.0 |
5 | Connecticut | 8,478 | 60.7 | 5.0 |
6 | Pennsylvania | 6,849 | 42.2 | 6.7 |
7 | Washington | 9,443 | 48.8 | 8.0 |
8 | Maine | 8,392 | 48.5 | 9.0 |
9 | Massachusetts | 3,705 | 56.8 | 5.0 |
10 | Nebraska | 8,986 | 45.6 | 7.0 |
11 | Hawaii | 9,886 | 51.6 | 10.0 |
12 | Mississippi | 5,704 | 53.7 | 10.0 |
13 | North Carolina | 10,122 | 44.3 | 8.0 |
14 | Minnesota | 7,177 | 47.4 | 5.4 |
15 | Iowa | 3,692 | 45.7 | 7.9 |
16 | Oklahoma | 9,404 | 43.0 | 9.0 |
17 | Illinois | 5,885 | 53.7 | 8.0 |
18 | Maryland | 8,780 | 48.2 | 7.0 |
19 | New York | 7,036 | 53.5 | 7.0 |
20 | Alabama | 8,926 | 42.6 | 10.0 |
21 | Oregon | 10,164 | 42.6 | 7.7 |
22 | Michigan | 6,680 | 44.6 | 10.0 |
23 | New Hampshire | – | 58.0 | N/A |
24 | Virginia | 7,239 | 48.3 | 6.0 |
25 | New Mexico | 7,334 | 42.1 | 9.0 |
26 | Colorado | 5,434 | 50.6 | 4.0 |
27 | West Virginia | 10,313 | 31.0 | 9.0 |
28 | Kentucky | 8,151 | 35.2 | 8.0 |
29 | Arkansas | 9,026 | 46.1 | 8.0 |
30 | Tennessee | 5,734 | 38.1 | 9.0 |
31 | Georgia | 4,694 | 48.1 | 8.0 |
32 | Missouri | 3,208 | 44.5 | 5.3 |
33 | Ohio | 4,000 | 45.9 | 5.0 |
34 | California | 8,037 | 47.1 | 4.8 |
35 | Florida | 2,401 | 50.6 | 2.0 |
36 | Utah | 3,074 | 42.5 | 2.0 |
37 | Nevada | 8,476 | 34.7 | 6.0 |
38 | Louisiana | 4,623 | 48.6 | 7.9 |
39 | Kansas | 2,085 | 48.8 | 4.0 |
40 | Wisconsin | 6,200 | 35.4 | 3.0 |
41 | Alaska | 5,212 | 47.3 | 3.0 |
42 | Wyoming | – | 31.9 | N/A |
43 | Texas | 3,693 | 40.3 | 4.0 |
44 | South Carolina | 3,216 | 37.8 | 7.0 |
45 | Indiana | – | 40.5 | N/A |
46 | Arizona | 3,686 | 38.5 | 3.0 |
47 | South Dakota | – | 40.7 | N/A |
48 | North Dakota | 527 | 31.8 | 2.0 |
49 | Montana | – | 36.8 | N/A |
50 | Idaho | – | 31.6 | N/A |
Sponsored: Want to Retire Early? Here’s a Great First Step
Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?
Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.