A new study ranks Louisiana 15th in the nation in the percentage of 4-year-olds enrolled in preschool. The study released today by the National Institute for Early Education Research shows total enrollment of 19,871 in preschool programs for 4-year-olds in Louisiana, an enrollment rate of about 32%. Annual state spending on preschool tops $90 million, or $4,565 per child enrolled, earning Louisiana a ranking of 16th in that category.
A statement from the institute notes that Louisiana is in the process of implementing plans to improve teacher quality and serve more preschoolers. However, it raises concerns about whether those efforts will be adequately funded.
For the nation as a whole, the report says state funded preschool education, hard hit by the Great Recession, has turned the corner and in many states is back on an expansion track. For the second year in a row, the institute’s data show that states collectively have increased financing for pre-K. Adjusted for inflation, state support for pre-K rose by nearly $120 million in 2013-2014 across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Enrollment growth also resumed, albeit modestly, with a total increase of 8,335 slots to reach its highest level recorded over the report’s 12-year history.
See the complete report on preschool enrollment in Louisiana.
