Andrew McDonald
Office 202.552.2178
amcdonald@pewtrusts.org

Holly Barnes Higgins
Office 202.862.9863
hhiggins@pewtrusts.org

Washington, D.C. – Danielle M. Gonzales, Project Manager of Pre-K Now, a campaign of the Pew Center on the States, issued the following statement in response to recent segments on prekindergarten that aired on the ABC News shows Good Morning America and 20/20.

“The Good Morning America and 20/20 segments presented viewers with an unbalanced, inaccurate picture of the important issue of pre-kindergarten.

“Here are a few key facts about pre-k that the segment omitted:

• Four decades of rigorous academic research show that quality pre-k programs provide a proven return on investment to both children and taxpayers.
• Hundreds of thousands of families do not have access to quality pre-k programs because they cannot afford them.
• Because of years of underfunding, Head Start has historically been able to serve only about half of all eligible children.
• A great number of early education and care settings do not meet quality standards.
• Increased investment in early education would provide parents with more quality pre-k choices – including private for- and non-profit child care centers, Head Start programs, public schools, and faith-based centers – and participation is always voluntary.

“The growing success of the movement to expand voluntary, high-quality pre-k is directly attributable to the fact that study after study has demonstrated that these programs yield a proven return on investment by benefitting children and taxpayers in both the short- and long-term.

“That is why an increasing number of parents, educators, business leaders, policy makers, economists and child development experts are working together across party lines at all levels of government to ensure children and families have access to quality pre-k if they want it.”

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The Pew Charitable Trusts applies the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Our Center on the States identifies and advances effective policy approaches to critical issues facing states.  Online at www.pewcenteronthestates.org