A new report suggests that Georgia’s vaunted reputation as an early-childhood education leader is threatened by funding cuts to its prekindergarten program.
The report by the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute, an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit organization, notes that both the universal preschool program and hope, a college-scholarship program, are financed by revenue from the Georgia lottery. But the preschool program’s share has been cut sharply over the years because of hope’s increasing financial demands.
In fiscal 2012, the cuts resulted in fewer class days, teacher pay cuts, and larger classes. Cuts next fiscal year will mean 2,000 fewer program slots, the report says.
