Heightened Focus on Early Childhood Education Programs as Preschool Enrollment Increased Before COVID-19

State funding of preschool programs surpassed $9 billion in the District of Columbia and the 44 states that funded preschools in the 2019-20 school year and policymakers are increasingly focusing on early childhood education, including the current administration’s proposed initiative of universal pre-school for 3- and 4-year-olds.

These initiatives may facilitate more preschool enrollment, which research links to improved academic and behavioral outcomes for children later in life.

So, how has U.S. enrollment in preschool programs changed in recent years?

Along with the overall growth in enrollment, 2005 to 2019 saw a major shift in the type of preschools parents chose: Public schools became much more prominent.

U.S. Census Bureau analysis of data from the American Community Survey (ACS) from 2005 to 2019 shows the percentage of children ages 3 and 4 enrolled in preschool overall went up during that period.

This period of analysis ended before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S. so does not reflect its impact on preschool enrollment.

The proportion of 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in preschool increased from 2005 to 2008 by 3.4 percentage points to 47.4% (Figure 1) but after that declined until 2013.

While other factors may have been at play, the global recession most likely contributed to this downward trend as many parents were out of work and may have been unable to afford preschool.

However, as noted, preschool enrollment started to inch up again in 2013 and has resumed its upward trend.

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