Washington's preschool system ranks below most other states, report finds

Washington’s access to quality preschool services falls below many other states, only serving 16% of four-year-olds and 8% of three-year-olds, a new national report found.

The National Institute for Early Education Research released its annual preschool report last week and found Washington’s preschool access ranked 33rd for four-year-olds and 17th for three-year-olds.

The report also found that despite its low rankings for access, Washington scores fairly well for funding for the child care sector, ranking eighth for state spending. But despite the spending, families still struggle to find care.

“Washington’s preschool program is far short of what the state’s leaders in Congress have proposed for the nation. As hope for federal action has faded, a new wave of western states – California, Hawaii, Colorado, and New Mexico – have developed universal preschool initiatives,” said W. Steven Barnett, NIEER’s senior co-director. “Will leaders in Washington State also step forward with a similar plan to guarantee access to quality preschool for every child in Washington?”

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/04/25/washingtons-preschool-system-ranks-below-most-other-states-report-finds/