Preschool education might not be for everyone.
Our own Eric Schulzke reported on the national debate over universal pre-K education for children in November of last year.
Some, like President Barack Obama, have openly endorsed universal pre-K because it helps set children on a path toward life and career success, Shulzke reported.
Research shows that one of the best investments we can make in a childs life is high-quality early education, Obama said in a State of the Union address last year.
But others have spoken out against it. Schulzkes article pointed to David Armor, a professor of public policy at George Mason University, who said that preschool education can be too costly.
The difference in opinion over pre-K education can be seen across different states, too. Some states fund more preschool programs than others, while other states dont fund preschool education at all.
The National Institute for Early Education Research released a report this week called The State of Preschool, which broke down how much financial support and access each state has for preschool education.
The report also looked at how many 3- and 4-year-old children are enrolled in pre-kindergarten in the state and how much access these children have to preschool education.
Heres a look at the states and locations that have the best access for preschool education.
1. District of Columbia
The report said that 82.9 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds in the nation's capital are enrolled in pre-K education.
2. Vermont
Vermont is full of trees and maple syrup, but its also where children like to attend preschool. The report says that 58.7 percent of Vermonts youngsters enroll in pre-K education.
3. Florida
Florida isnt just home to retirees. The report says that 39.7 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds in the state enroll in pre-K education. Florida doesnt have any program for just 3-year-olds.
4. Oklahoma
The report says that 38.2 percent of Oklahomas youngsters enroll in pre-K education. Like Florida, the state doesnt have pre-K education for just 3-year-olds.
5. West Virginia
The preschool report says 40.3 percent of West Virginias 3- and 4-year-olds attend pre-K education. The state also has a significantly high amount of 5-year-olds who attend, according to the report.
6. Wisconsin
Those cheeseheads are getting their education in early, as 33.6 percent of the states 3- and 4-year-olds attend preschool.
7. Georgia
Georgias where the peaches grow, and where youngsters attend preschool, too. The report said 30.1 percent of the states 3- and 4-year-olds attend pre-K schools.
8. Iowa
Iowas parents embrace pre-K education, with 31.9 percent of the states youngsters attending pre-K.
9. Texas
Everythings bigger in Texas, especially the amount of children attending pre-K. The report said that 28.9 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds attend preschool.
10. New York
Not many of New York Citys 3-year-olds attend preschool (0.1 percent, in fact), but the states overall number of enrolled 3- and 4-year-olds rests at 21.7 percent.
11. South Carolina
South Carolina isnt far behind New York, as 22.7 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds attend preschool in the Palmetto State.
12. Arkansas
Arkansas ranks 12th on the list, with the majority of its young students enrolling at 5 years old. The report said 25.3 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds attend preschool.
13. Maryland
Not far from D.C., which leads the list, Maryland has 20.2 percent of its kiddos attending preschool. Maryland doesnt have any preschool programs for 3-year-olds.
14. Maine
In Maine, 17.7 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds are enrolled in school. The state does not have a program just for 3-year-olds.
15. Louisiana
Like Maryland, Louisiana doesnt have any program for just 3-year-olds. But the state does boast high numbers for 4-year-olds, reaching a total of 15.9 percent for 3- and 4-year-olds.
Our own Eric Schulzke reported on the national debate over universal pre-K education for children in November of last year.
Some, like President Barack Obama, have openly endorsed universal pre-K because it helps set children on a path toward life and career success, Shulzke reported.
Research shows that one of the best investments we can make in a childs life is high-quality early education, Obama said in a State of the Union address last year.
But others have spoken out against it. Schulzkes article pointed to David Armor, a professor of public policy at George Mason University, who said that preschool education can be too costly.
The difference in opinion over pre-K education can be seen across different states, too. Some states fund more preschool programs than others, while other states dont fund preschool education at all.
The National Institute for Early Education Research released a report this week called The State of Preschool, which broke down how much financial support and access each state has for preschool education.
The report also looked at how many 3- and 4-year-old children are enrolled in pre-kindergarten in the state and how much access these children have to preschool education.
Heres a look at the states and locations that have the best access for preschool education.
1. District of Columbia
The report said that 82.9 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds in the nation's capital are enrolled in pre-K education.
2. Vermont
Vermont is full of trees and maple syrup, but its also where children like to attend preschool. The report says that 58.7 percent of Vermonts youngsters enroll in pre-K education.
3. Florida
Florida isnt just home to retirees. The report says that 39.7 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds in the state enroll in pre-K education. Florida doesnt have any program for just 3-year-olds.
4. Oklahoma
The report says that 38.2 percent of Oklahomas youngsters enroll in pre-K education. Like Florida, the state doesnt have pre-K education for just 3-year-olds.
5. West Virginia
The preschool report says 40.3 percent of West Virginias 3- and 4-year-olds attend pre-K education. The state also has a significantly high amount of 5-year-olds who attend, according to the report.
6. Wisconsin
Those cheeseheads are getting their education in early, as 33.6 percent of the states 3- and 4-year-olds attend preschool.
7. Georgia
Georgias where the peaches grow, and where youngsters attend preschool, too. The report said 30.1 percent of the states 3- and 4-year-olds attend pre-K schools.
8. Iowa
Iowas parents embrace pre-K education, with 31.9 percent of the states youngsters attending pre-K.
9. Texas
Everythings bigger in Texas, especially the amount of children attending pre-K. The report said that 28.9 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds attend preschool.
10. New York
Not many of New York Citys 3-year-olds attend preschool (0.1 percent, in fact), but the states overall number of enrolled 3- and 4-year-olds rests at 21.7 percent.
11. South Carolina
South Carolina isnt far behind New York, as 22.7 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds attend preschool in the Palmetto State.
12. Arkansas
Arkansas ranks 12th on the list, with the majority of its young students enrolling at 5 years old. The report said 25.3 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds attend preschool.
13. Maryland
Not far from D.C., which leads the list, Maryland has 20.2 percent of its kiddos attending preschool. Maryland doesnt have any preschool programs for 3-year-olds.
14. Maine
In Maine, 17.7 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds are enrolled in school. The state does not have a program just for 3-year-olds.
15. Louisiana
Like Maryland, Louisiana doesnt have any program for just 3-year-olds. But the state does boast high numbers for 4-year-olds, reaching a total of 15.9 percent for 3- and 4-year-olds.
