{"id":5350,"date":"2017-05-24T09:49:15","date_gmt":"2017-05-24T16:49:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uwsfc.org\/?p=5350\/"},"modified":"2021-12-16T09:53:14","modified_gmt":"2021-12-16T16:53:14","slug":"2016-state-preschool-yearbook-shows-new-mexico-investing-reach-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/growingupnm.org\/2016-state-preschool-yearbook-shows-new-mexico-investing-reach-children\/","title":{"rendered":"2016 State of Preschool Yearbook Shows New Mexico Investing More to Reach More Children"},"content":{"rendered":"

2016 State of Preschool Yearbook Shows New Mexico Investing More to Reach More Children<\/a><\/p>\n

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, May 24, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Contact:
\n<\/strong>Danila Crespin Zidovsky
\ndanilaz@uwsfc.org
\n<\/a>505-435-3184<\/p>\n

2016 State of Preschool Yearbook Shows New Mexico Investing More to Reach More Children<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>New Mexico PreK Recognized for Increased Funding and a Focus on Quality<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>[SANTA FE, NM]<\/strong> \u2013 New Mexico boosted PreK funding by almost 30 percent and expanded enrollment, according to the 2016 State of Preschool Yearbook released today by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). Despite the increase, New Mexico is currently ranked 16th<\/sup> in access for 4-year-olds out of 44 states and 22nd<\/sup> for access for 3-year-olds among the 29 states that served 3-year-olds.<\/p>\n

The State of Preschool Yearbook is the only national report on state-funded preschool programs with detailed information on enrollment, funding, teacher qualifications, and other policies related to quality. State-funded PreK programs are ranked along ten benchmarks of quality. Decades of research shows that early childhood education can prepare children for greater success in elementary school and beyond, with benefits largest for the most disadvantaged– but only if quality is high.<\/p>\n

New Mexico enrolled 9,757 children in PreK, including one-third of state 4-year-olds and almost 2 percent of 3-year-olds. Nationwide, state-funded preschool program enrollment reached an all-time high, serving nearly 1.5 million children, 32 percent of 4-year-olds and five percent of 3-year-olds. Five states met all 10 current quality standards benchmarks. Nine states had programs that met fewer than half; and seven states do not fund preschool at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarly childhood education is one of the best ways we can invest in our children, families and local economy,\u201d said New Mexico Early Childhood Development Partnership (NMECDP) Vice President for Policy and Stakeholder Engagement, Claire Dudley Chavez. \u201cWhile we are excited to announce NIEER\u2019s findings and the expansion of high-quality NM PreK, we must continue to work toward providing high-quality pre-K for every New Mexican child, ensuring they get the best possible start in life.\u201d<\/p>\n

NM PreK by the numbers in 2016:<\/p>\n