Holly Higgins
Office 202.862.9863
Mobile 202.834.6846
hhiggins@preknow.org

(Washington, D.C.) – Despite a tough economic downturn, Ohio joins states in the nation’s industrial heartland and across the country in its commitment to invest in the workforce of the future, according to "Votes Count: Legislative Action on Pre-K Fiscal Year 2009,” a state-by-state analysis of pre-kindergarten funding released today by Pre-K Now with support from The Pew Charitable Trusts. Net state investments in pre-k will increase by more than $309 million nationally, to $5.2 billion in the coming fiscal year.

As established by the state’s biennial budget enacted in 2007, Ohio’s Early Childhood Education Program will receive an 18% increase for a total of $36.5 million. While the increase is good news for the future, “Votes Count” reveals that Ohio is among the five “Worst Chance States” on its new ranking of where families have the best and worst chances of enrolling their children in high-quality, state-funded pre-k.

“Ohio’s pre-k budget increase was critically needed,” said Libby Doggett, executive director of Pre-K Now. “Unfortunately, far too many families in Ohio are still left out of a program that provides immediate economic relief to families and improves the future prospects of young children and the communities in which they will live and work as adults.”

The report sheds new light on the impact of America’s economic downturn and the role of business leaders in legislative support for pre-k funding increases. Motivated by concerns about workforce development and dismal high school-graduation rates, business leaders - along with a growing number of parents, educators and school administrators - are helping Republicans and Democrats join forces to advance pre-k as a prudent, evidence-based economic and education reform strategy. In places as politically diverse as Michigan is from Alabama, Kansas and Virginia, pre-k support is crossing political aisles.

“Policymakers across the country – and particularly here in Ohio – recognize quality pre-k as one of the ways states can rebound from this economic downturn,” S. Kay Geiger, president of Ohio and Northern Kentucky Regions, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. “When we invest in early education, we’re actually investing in human capital.”

Additional report highlights:

• In addition to Ohio, Arizona and Kansas offer the worst chances to families seeking high-quality, state-funded pre-k; Oklahoma, West Virginia and Arkansas give families the best chances.
• In Michigan, funding for the Great Start Readiness Program has increased by 14% since FY07 to nearly $104 million.
• Funding for Pennsylvania’s Pre-K Counts includes an increase of more than $11 million for a total budget of over $86 million.
• The District of Columbia and Louisiana join an elite group of seven states already providing or phasing in pre-k for all children: Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, New York, Oklahoma and West Virginia.
• For the second year in a row, Iowa had the highest percent increase in pre-k support at 73%.
• Two of the dozen states in the “Pre-K Wilderness” (those without a state-funded pre-k program) took important first steps toward establishing quality programs: Hawaii and Rhode Island.

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Pre-K Now collaborates with state advocates and policymakers to lead a movement for high-quality voluntary pre-kindergarten for all three and four year olds. The following funders contribute to making this important work possible: The Pew Charitable Trusts, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the McCormick Foundation, the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, the Foundation for Child Development, RGK Foundation, CityBridge Foundation, and the Schumann Fund for New Jersey.

The Pew Charitable Trusts (www.pewtrusts.org) is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today's most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and stimulate civic life. We partner with a diverse range of donors, public and private organizations and concerned citizens who share our commitment to fact-based solutions and goal-driven investments to improve society.

• "Votes Count: Legislative Action on Pre-K Fiscal Year 2009"
• Fast facts on Ohio's FY09 pre-k budget