Latest news with #AllisonFriedman-Krauss
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Study: Nevada preschool funds fail to yield results
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Nevada has fallen to 41st in the nation for preschool access for four-year-olds, even as the state ranks in the top 10 for per-student spending, according to a new report from the National Institute for Early Education Research that calls for a major funding increase to improve quality and enrollment. Officials from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) said that the $9,000 spent per child in Nevada is not helping the state catch up compared to the rest of the country. Despite spending more than other states, the Silver State ranks 41st in preschool access for four-year-old children, dropping one spot from 40th according to the 2024 State of Preschool report. Allison Friedman-Krauss, an associate research professor at NIEER, believes Nevada should invest more money to provide and maintain quality programs. She said Nevada would need to increase spending by 50 percent, estimating it will cost nearly $15,000 per student to meet the preschool student benchmark. The estimate comes despite Nevada coming in tenth in spending out of 45 states that have preschool programs. 'They are at the top of the states, but the state still has ways to go to be considered adequately funded,' Friedman-Krauss said. The data indicate that state initiatives reached historic highs in the U.S. for the 2023-2024 school year, with states like New Mexico outpacing their neighboring states. Friedman-Krauss said the report places pressure on states to close gaps in preschool program accessibility. 'The goal of the report, which we've been doing now for over two decades, is to track annually states' investments in state-funded preschool programs,' she said. The programs, which are funded and administered by each state, are designed to support four-year-old children, Friedman-Krauss said, adding that many children have gone underserved by them. 'The program enrolled 3,606 children in the 2023 to 2024 school year,' she said. The report indicates that Nevada serves one percent of three-year-olds but nine percent of four-year-olds. Nationally, preschool remains a program mostly for four-year-olds. 'I just think they need to fund the program better,' Friedman-Krauss said of Nevada. The report also indicates that Nevada has started serving a small number of three-year-olds in state-funded pre-K programs and has increased enrollment by more than 20 percent for the 2023-2024 school year. Friedman-Krauss said the cost benefits show a high return on funds invested in high-quality preschool programs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Report: Massachusetts early education has room to improve
Despite being recognized as a leader in its K-12 education, the commonwealth can improve its early education for preschoolers, a new Rutgers University report said. The report, which was published Tuesday, said Massachusetts ranks slightly above average when it comes to its early education, according to 10 benchmarks set by the National Institute for Early Education Research, a research entity within Rutgers University. The state met six out of the 10 benchmarks, according to the institute, which range from early learning and development standards to class size, to whether or not a teacher needs a bachelor's degree or more to teach young learners. 'Massachusetts is a leader in elementary and secondary education but it hasn't risen to be a leader in early education,' said Allison Friedman-Krauss, a research associate professor at the institute, in a phone interview. The state has two early education programs: Chapter 70, which offers state aid to school districts that have students with disabilities, and Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI), she said. The state also has Head Start programs, which the Trump administraion has proposed cutting in a proposal to Congress. Friedman-Krauss said the Head Start program helps about 8,000 children aged 3 and 4 from some of the poorest families in the state. 'It's a fragile ecosystem,' she said. 'Cutting funding will impact programs state and nationwide.' The state's CPPI program does a great job already at providing comprehensive and culturally sensitive education to preschoolers, according to the report. It also ensures that class sizes don't exceed 20 students. Still, there are some areas for improvement, Friedman-Krauss said. 'Massachusetts should try to stick with one program model,' she said. Neighboring Vermont is a leader in early education, according to the report, which enrolled 76% of 4-year-olds and 58% of 3-year-olds. 'When states invest in quality education, they can see returns on their investments. When they don't, the children are impacted,' she said. After Holyoke condemns office building, owner fights back in court NY developers to build affordable housing at former Facemate building in Chicopee Marking 48 Mass. workplace deaths in past year-plus, advocates fear the cost of deregulation WMass Governor's Councilor solicits public feedback on 2 judicial nominees Read the original article on MassLive.
