Efforts to enroll more Maryland and Virginia 4-year-olds in state-funded preschool have seen positive but pricey results in the past eight years, according to a new study.
In Virginia, enrollees have more than doubled since 2001 for a total of about 13,100, says a report released Wednesday by the National Institute for Early Education Research. In Maryland, where state law requires preschool services be offered for all low-income 4-year-olds, the numbers have gone up by about half, to 26,800.
Overall, 13 percent of Virginia’s 4-year-olds are in state-funded care, while more than one-third of Maryland’s are. Oklahoma ranks first in the nation, with 71 percent of its students enrolled, while Minnesota ranks lowest, at 2 percent. Twelve states have no state-funded preschool programs.
The growth has come with significant costs, however, and financial crises in Virginia and Maryland are threatening further expansions. Maryland spent nearly $105 million on preschool in 2007-08, according to the report, or about $3,800 per student. With the addition of federal and local funds, per-child spending rose to nearly $8,600.
But planned program expansions are on hold while Maryland re-prioritizes spending, according to a spokeswoman for Gov. Martin O’Malley. The state is likely to face billion-dollar annual budget deficits through 2014, according to analysts.
Virginia spent about $47 million for its programs, or about $3,600 per student. Federal and local funds brought the per-child spending to about $5,600.
In Fairfax County, the Board of Supervisors proposed a cut to preschool classes for low-income students in an effort to help balance its dire budget, but the school system is pleading for the money to be restored.
“What you really want is to be able to serve your entire at-risk population, give them a stimulating and safe place to prepare for kindergarten,” said Fairfax School Board member Jane Strauss. “There’s never been enough money to do that.”
In both states, a significant number of preschoolers attend private programs. Private preschools account for about 75 percent of students enrolled in Virginia and about half of those enrolled in Maryland.
