Published by CounciLINK on April 25, 2019
TULSA, OK – Oklahoma continues to be a national leader in providing universal access to prekindergarten, according to a report released April 17.
The National Institute for Early Childhood Education ranks Oklahoma No. 4 for access to prekindergarten, with 74 percent of the state’s 4-year-olds enrolled in early education programs during the 2017-18 school year.
As one of the first states to commit to universal access to preschool, Oklahoma has been ranked at or near the top of the annual report for several years. It’s also only one of four states that require Pre-K teachers to hold bachelor’s degrees and teaching certificates and ensure them equal pay with other grade-level teachers.
“Kindergarten-readiness has long been a priority in Oklahoma, as has professionalizing the role of those who teach our youngest learners,” State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said. “For decades, our early childhood educators have been nationally renowned as pioneers in their field.”
The report shows Oklahoma met nine of 10 quality standards benchmarks set by the institute, including class size and staff professional development. The missing benchmark relates to Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials for assistant teachers.
Three states met all benchmarks, while four tied Oklahoma with nine.
Meanwhile, only a third of 4-year-olds in the country were enrolled in state-funded preschool during 2017-18. State spending per child has decreased, according to the report, and most states fail to pay Pre-K teachers comparably with those who teach kindergarten through third grade.
Further, 9 percent of children enrolled in public preschool across the country attend programs that meet at least nine standards benchmarks. Twelve states have programs that met fewer than half of the benchmarks, including states with the largest numbers of children in state-funded preschool and children in poverty.
Mark Shriver, senior vice president for Save the Children’s U.S. Programs and Advocacy, said investing in high-quality early childhood education is one of the most effective ways to break the pervasive cycle of poverty and ensure equal opportunity for all families.
“Effective preschool programs are a long-term investment in our nation’s future and our most precious resource: our children,” Shriver said. “They provide the foundation and set the course for a child’s lifelong learning and success.”
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Janie received her M.A. in Organization Development from American University. She holds numerous professional development certificates in Human Capital Management and Change Management, including a Diversity and Inclusion in Human Resources certificate from Cornell University. She completed the year-long Maryland Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program sponsored by The Schaefer Center for Public Policy and The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. She is a trained mediator and Certified Professional Coach. She is a graduate of Leadership America, former board chair of the NTL Institute and currently co-steward of the organization’s social justice community of practice, and a member of The Society for Human Resource Management. Additionally, Janie is the Board Chairperson for the Special Education Citizens Advisory Council for Prince Georges County where she is active in developing partnerships that facilitate discussion between parents, families, educators, community leaders, and the PG County school administration to enhance services for students with disabilities which is her passion. She and her husband Randolph reside in Fort Washington Maryland.
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