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Preschool Enrollment on the Rise
December 6, 2007
I suggest that if you are willing to let go, let go of the chase to acquire or accumulate always more and let go of that way of perceiving the world, then you can take all that energy and attention and invest it in what you have. When you do that you will find unimagined treasures.
-Lynne Twist
In 1999, 58% of 3- and 4-year-old children were enrolled in center-based early childhood programs, up from 50% in 1991.  This finding from the "National Household Education Survey" is reported on the National Institute for Early Education Research web site (http://nieer.org/resources/facts/index.php?FastFactID=7).  Additional findings reported include:

*  The increase in preschool program enrollments was part of a larger trend toward increased use of all types of early education and care by parents.  In 1999, 76% of America's 3- and 4-year-olds were educated and cared for by someone other than their parents (in centers, Head Start, nursery schools, family child care, or by relatives or nannies), compared with 67% in 1991.

*  Enrollment in preschool programs varies by region.  In 1999, 82% of 4-year-olds in the Northeast were enrolled in center-based programs, compared with 69% in the South, 67% in the Midwest, and 60% in the West.

*  All regions experienced increasing enrollments except the West.  In the West, the enrollment of 3-year-olds in center-based programs decreased from 37% in 1991to 35% in 1999; while the enrollment of 4-year-olds in the West increased only marginally from 58% in 1991 to 60% in 1999.




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* Connecting: Friendship in the Lives of Young Children
* The Wonder of It: Exploring How the World Works
* Out of the Box Training Kit: Recognizing the Essentials of Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum

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Comments (4)

Displaying All 4 Comments
Joan Lansing-Eigenhuis · December 06, 2007
Ventura College
Ventura, CA, United States


I am curious as to why these figures from 1999 were used. Do we not have more up-to-date information?

Benith MacPherson · December 06, 2007
Tucson, AZ, United States


It is difficult to understand why survey results from eight years ago are just now being reported as "new" information. One might find even more striking variances in numbers if the 1991 - 98 time frame was compared to the 1998 - 2006 time frame! Too bad more current information is not available(??).

Barbara Karlen · December 06, 2007
United States


Today's article is interesting, but I take exception to the wording of this sentence:

In 1999, 76% of America's 3- and 4-year-olds were educated and cared for by someone other than their parents (in centers, Head Start, nursery schools, family child care, or by relatives or nannies), compared with 67% in 1991.


It ought to say "in addition to their parents." No matter what program a preschool child may attend, the family is the primary source of care and learning.

Linda Schumacher · December 06, 2007
Inst. of Education and Prof. Dev.
Worcester, MA, United States


With more public school systems offering preschool, it would be interesting to measure the number of children enrolling in public preschool as well. Also, family child care is becoming a quality option for many families with smaller group sizes and often more flexibility and convenience in a home like atmosphere. Studies which look at only center-based are missing much of the "big picture" of early education and care in our country today.



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