What If All Children Could Attend Preschool? [RWJF.org]

For the past 18 years, every 4-year-old in Oklahoma has been guaranteed a spot in preschool, for free. These kids are learning their letters, numbers, colors and shapes. They’re also developing arguably more important social and emotional tools--how to make friends, feel empathy, solve problems, manage conflict. These are the kind of building blocks children need to become thriving adults.

Nearly 75 percent of 4-year-olds are enrolled in Oklahoma’s pre-K program. That's one of the highest participation rates in the country. But if we look across the United States, we see that just 61 percent of kids between the ages of 3 and 6 are enrolled in pre-K, daycare or other formal early childhood education program. 

Why? Of course, many parents stay home or have a friend, neighbor or relative take care of their kid. But a recent Harvard poll of parents with children under the age of five highlights the struggles families face in finding quality, affordable child care. Many parents reported having limited options and said that the cost of child care had caused financial problems. Low-income families were especially likely to report difficulty accessing care.

What’s Happening in Other Countries?

Unlike the U.S., many European countries have nearly universal participation in preschool--rates of 95 percent or higher. What’s more, these countries have high rates of participation even among low-income families.

A recent scan of child care and early education in Europe, conducted by the American Institutes for Research with a grant from RWJF, identified several promising strategies that could increase participation in early childhood education in the United States, particularly among the most vulnerable.