Unlike K-12 education, preschool is not something that every child is offered by the government. The concept of universal pre-K is becoming discussed more and more. According to Education Week, “universal pre-K is any state-funded preschool program in which age is the only criterion for eligibility”. Education is largely controlled on the state level, so there is a lot of variability in which states have a universal pre-K program. This also means that as it stands, not every child in the United States has access to publicly provided pre-K programs. Giving parents this option is something that has many benefits to children and families and is a policy that can and should be implemented across the country.
In New England, only Maine and Vermont claim to have a universal pre-K program. Connecticut does not have such a program, and only 21% of 4-year olds were enrolled in a pre-K program during the 2019-2020 school year. This is something that should change, especially given the benefits that such a program can provide. According to the Alliance for Early Success, “Children who experience early care and education programs that provide consistent, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate opportunities for cognitive and social development benefit significantly in both the short and long-term.” With the government spending large amounts of money on various programs, it’s baffling as to why universal pre-K is not something they have chosen to invest in, especially given the developmental and educational benefits it could provide. In society, the education and development of the future generation is something that should be given the highest priority. Children are our future, and we need to invest in them accordingly.
Beyond the benefit to children, such a policy could also help families financially, as this type of program can take the place of childcare or a private preschool that parents have to pay for. The Institute for Women’s Policy Research reports that “Universal pre-kindergarten would save families $17 billion per year”. This is a policy that can have a real impact on working parents who are struggling financially. And it is certainly a better plan than vice presidential candidate JD Vance’s solution to the issue, simply having “grandma or grandpa … help out a little bit more.”
When considering such a program, one of the primary factors to consider is the cost. The University of Pennsylvania found that “a universal pre-K program for three- and four-year-olds will cost about $351 billion over the 10-year budget window.” This cost decreases if the program is only for four-year-olds. To put this in perspective, during the 2023 fiscal year. the United States government spent $820 billion on national defense. Assuming that the cost of universal pre-K was divided evenly between the ten years, (which, in reality, it likely would not be), then it would cost less than 5% of each year’s national defense spending. This cost is not that excessive given the budget of the federal government, and the positive impact it could have on children and their families.
Universal pre-K is a policy that could have huge benefits for our children and their parents, but unfortunately is not something that has received the investment needed to make it a reality. Education is one of the most important services that the government provides. Children are the future of our country and world, and ensuring they receive every opportunity to learn and grow is in the best interest of society as large. The policies and investments that the government makes should reflect that fact, and funding universal pre-K for all students in the United States is one way to do that.