Few states have put comprehensive policies in place to support early literacy, finds a report from the think tank New America.
New America scored states on early-education policies in seven categories: educators; standards, assessment, and data; equitable funding; pre-K access and quality; full-day kindergarten access and quality; dual-language-learner supports; and 3rd grade reading laws.
New York, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Connecticut, and Wisconsin ranked highest—though none received higher than a C letter grade—for having a state-funded prekindergarten program, 3rd grade reading laws, school funding formulas that don’t penalize districts in low-income communities, and high standards for early educators.
Eleven other states offer little or no preschool and only a smattering of rules on quality and funding, according to the report.
