Pre-K/K Enrollment and Family Engagement

During SY2021, Pre-kindergarten enrollment declined 21% and Kindergarten enrollment declined 6% across the state (compared to an average of 1% across grades 1-12). Because 90% of brain development occurs before the age of 5, these enrollment declines represent decreased learning opportunities for our youngest learners. This is of particular concern for low-income children and English Language Learners who are less likely than their peers to be Kindergarten ready. Recently released statewide data shows that 52% of economically disadvantaged students and English Language Learners (ELLs) who attended public Pre-k were Kindergarten ready the following year compared to 38% and 36% of those who did not attend Pre-K, respectively (+14%pts, +16%pts; dive deeper into the statewide data and explore results by district from the 2020 TPEIR Kindergarten Readiness Reports).

Increasing Pre-K and K enrollment, especially among student populations that have been most impacted by COVID-19, is key to ensuring our youngest learners have the academic and social emotional foundation to be successful in subsequent grades.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AREAS OF FOCUS: