The Providing Resources Early for Kids (PRE-K) Act, H.R. 3289, was originally introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-HI). The PRE-K Act sets a new standard for federal support for high-quality pre-kindergartent education. If passed, the bill would offer first-ever federal incentive grants to states to improve their pre-k programs.
What the Bill Does
- Awards funding to states, on a competitive basis, to support the quality of state pre-k programs
This means funding to:
- reduce student-teacher ratios;
- recruit and retain qualified teachers with bachelor's degrees in early childhood education;
- address the cultural and linguistic needs of English Language Learners;
- provide full-day vs. half-day programs, and
- other activities that support program quality.
- Allows funding to be used to expand enrollment only after states have met high quality standards
This is to prevent money from going to expanding mediocre or poor quality programs and to create an incentive for states to boost quality with their own money.
- Gives states an incentive to invest in the quality of their pre-k programs
The bill requires states receiving grants to match federal dollars with state dollars and prevents states from using federal dollars to supplant state dollars spent on pre-k.
- Encourages states to continue providing pre-k in a variety of high-quality settings
The bill allows funding to flow to whatever type of licensed pre-k provider the state recognizes, including school districts, Head Start providers, and community-based settings such as child care centers.
What the Bill Does Not Do
- Require states to start a pre-k program
- Impose a new federal pre-k program on top of state programs and Head Start
- Contain any new mandates or extend any existing mandates to states
Why the Bill Deserves Broad, Bipartisan Support
- No wasteful spending
The bill includes accountability measures and will only give federal funds to states on the condition that they take the lead and invest in the quality of their pre-k programs.
- Supports state leadership
Rather than impose a federal program on the states, the bill helps states expand upon the work they’ve already done to provide high-quality, voluntary pre-k programs to young children.
- Partners with Head Start, private providers, and communities
The bill encourages states to continue partnering with Head Start, non- and for-profit child care providers, and community-based and faith-based providers to give families more pre-k options, to share resources among all providers, and to avoid any duplication of services.
Status of the Legislation
The PRE-K Act was approved by the House Committee on Education and Labor on June 26, 2008. As of that date, the bill had 115 House co-sponsors.
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