Virginia lags behind in preschool access, neighboring states sprint ahead

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A new national report has revealed that Virginia continues to trail behind much of the country when it comes to access to state-funded preschools.

The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) released its annual State of Preschool Yearbook on Tuesday, April 29, publishing data on enrollment and spending for state-funded preschool programs.

Out of 44 states, Virginia maintained its rank of 30th in the nation for enrolling 4-year-olds in public preschool. By contrast, Washington, D.C. ranked first in the nation and West Virginia ranked fourth.

"Virginia’s moving ahead, but at a slow pace," said Steve Barnett, NIEER founder and senior director. "D.C. and neighboring states have made important commitments of resources -- prioritized early childhood education as the foundation of their school systems -- and that makes a big difference."

Barnett emphasized that the benefits of early education go beyond the classroom.

"High-quality preschool programs create a foundation for success in school and in life," he said. "Preschool is also an important service when states are competing for new residents … and to encourage families to move to a state."

Still, Virginia saw some progress. In the 2023–24 school year, the state enrolled 824 more students from the year prior and increased spending on its two programs: the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) and Mixed Delivery.

However, the report raised concerns about program quality. Virginia met only five of NIEER’s 10 benchmarks for preschool quality in VPI, and only four in Mixed Delivery — a decline compared to prior years.

Adding to the pressure is the looming threat of proposed cuts to the federally-funded Head Start program, which provides early education for children from low-income families. If implemented, those cuts could eliminate access for more than 9,200 preschoolers in Virginia, according to NIEER.

"If the federal government were to eliminate Head Start, that would be catastrophic," Barnett said. "If states had to find money for that overnight, it simply wouldn’t happen — they can’t adjust that quickly."

Barnett encouraged Virginia parents to advocate for stronger investments in early education by contacting their elected officials and emphasizing the long-term value of high-quality preschool.