Good news for early childhood was announced in a report released by the Pew Center on Thursday, October 22, 2009. This annual non-partisan report, “Votes Count: Legislative Action on Pre-K Fiscal Year 2010,” evaluated how states are planning state dollars for prekindergarten. We learn that Florida, Maine, Maryland, and Oregon have used ARRA funding to bolster Pre-K programs.

Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia increased or are projected to increase their Pre-K dollars by more than $187 million. Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia are going to see increases in existing programs by nearly $130 million. Two states, Alaska and Rhode Island, which previously had no state Pre-K programs, approved start up pilots. Nine states are expecting increases via the school funding formula. Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, and Pennsylvania maintained their 2009 levels.

Sadly, ten states are decreasing funding. They are Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Washington. At the time the report went to print, Arizona had not finalized their Pre-K budget.