According to the annual report on the status of pre-K in America released this week, Mississippi News was able to meet the majority of the new quality standards for non-profits. The National Institute for Early Education Research’s (NIEER), which compares the pre-K progress of each state and how they compare to each other, found that some states are moving forward in certain areas while others are falling behind in others. In a conference call on Tuesday, Dr. Steven Barnett (senior co-director of NIEER) stated that while enrollment spending has improved this year, there was still a small decline in other areas. This 190-page report, now in its 15th edition, detailed the disparities and growth in state-funded high-quality pre-K. It tracked the state’s access to resources and quality. The report highlights 10 key benchmarks that state quality standards have created to show more programs met these benchmarks this year, but not all states. Barnett pointed out that Alabama, Rhode Island, and Michigan all met the quality benchmarks and increased their enrollment. Barnett said that eight states have high numbers of children in poverty and that they meet less than five of the 10 benchmarks. Mississippi met all the benchmark standards, and nine of the new ones. The state did not meet the benchmark of having 15 hours of professional development for teachers and their assistants. Barnett added that many children who most need it don’t have access. Quality can also be unevenly distributed within a state. According to the report, in fiscal 2016-2017 enrollment increased while growth declined in state-funded prekindergarten programs. However, state spending per child decreased for the first time in four years. Three percent of Mississippi’s four-year-olds enrolled in 2017, compared to four percent in 2016. The amount of funds per child spent in 2017 was $2,436, compared to $1,805 for 2016. Pre-K programs are only offered in 10 percent of the state’s school districts. Mississippi was ranked No. 41 in access for four-year-olds and No. 27 in access for three-year-olds, No. 41 in state spending compared to other states. Barnett said that this year’s report includes a section about dual language learners and how state policy supports them. Barnett stated that 23 percent of pre-school-age children in the United States are bilingual learners. Only six of 60 state-funded preK programs require lead teachers to be trained to work with these kids. He stated that everyone has a stake “in high-quality pre-K” because today’s children are our future in science and business, as well as in the strength and quality of our military and our quality of life in cities and towns. However, when pre-K access is not the same where we live, it can impact our future and our children’s future. “We hope our report will inspire the media and the public to ask questions and hold elected officials responsible – not only for their promises, but also for making high-quality pre-K a reality in every community. Carey Wright, who was elected Mississippi’s state superintendent in 2013, has made it clear that she supports early learning programs. Wright is also president of the Council of Chief State Schools Officers. The Early Learning Collaborative Act of 2013, which established Mississippi’s program, provided funding for local communities to provide quality early childhood education and developmental services. The Mississippi Legislature contributed $3 million to the program in its first three years. This figure was increased to $4 million by 2016. W.K. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation provided a $6 million grant for the Mississippi Department of Education to support early childhood learning. Last school year, the program supported 10 collaboratives that included 51 sites and served 1,645 students. The Legislature has allocated $6.5 million for the next fiscal year.