From former P-I parenting reporter Paul Nyhan's blog on the site, Birth to Thrive:
It is still tough out there as state unemployment rates rise and jobs disappear, but pre-kindergarten initiatives fought the recession to a virtual standstill, losing no overall ground in state funding this year, a report released today says.
Despite widespread budget deficits, early learning preserved much of its political clout in state legislative sessions - 27 of 38 states either found more money or preserved current funding for existing pre-k programs in 2009, according to the report. Perhaps the strongest sign of early learning’s staying power was that of the 10 states with the worst budget shortfalls, seven either boosted or maintained pre-k spending.
Though total state investments will be effectively flat in FY10, rising slightly more than 1 percent to $5.3 billion, lawmakers’ choices clearly indicate that early education remains a top fiscal priority – even in these difficult times. By better than two to one, legislatures made concerted efforts to preserve pre-k. – “Votes Count for FY10,” released by Pre-K Now on 10/22/09.
While there was good news, it was a rough year, and the report had some tough words for Washington state.
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