State Preschool Budgets Cut

08/26/2003

"No member of a crew is praised for the rugged individuality of his rowing." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

STATE PRESCHOOL BUDGETS CUT

Nearly half of 18 polled states cut state preschool programs in state FY '04 budgets, with the remaining half funding the programs only at previous year levels, said a leading early education policy expert. A poll, taken by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), looked at the status of state preschool programs in the face of unprecedented state budget crises. Of 31 states polled by NIEER, information was obtained on 26 states. Of those, eight had not enacted their '04 budgets. Among the remaining 18, eight states cut their state funding for preschool while eight left their programs at flat funding levels and two increased their budgets. Those two states— Louisiana and New Jersey—increased spending levels for preschool, despite serious budget shortfalls. Louisiana shifted federal funds to preschool while New Jersey increased its state funds. New Jersey is under a court mandate to provide high-quality preschool programs.

For complete report, go to http://nieer.org/

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