About the Political Barometer

Pre-K Now has identified the ten essential conditions that create a favorable political climate for developing and/or expanding high-quality pre-k for all three and four year olds. The criteria are based on a review of available research, and Pre-K Now applies them on a state-by-state basis to gauge the atmosphere surrounding pre-k. We use these measures to evaluate public and policymaker opinions and to rate the strengths and weaknesses of efforts to promote and attain high-quality pre-k for all.

The Political Barometer includes the following criteria:

1. Gubernatorial Support
2. Key Policymaker Support
3. Legislative or Ballot Measure Activity
4. Funding
5. Advocacy
6. Business Community Support
7. Media Coverage
8. Governance
9. Teacher Professional Development
10. Pre-K-for-All

High-quality pre-k happens when leaders, both inside and outside government, collaborate with state experts, parents, and the public to build a strong system. For each criterion, our Barometer identifies several strategies, activities, or approaches used by leading states to ensure that all children start school prepared to succeed.

There is no one-size-fits-all policy approach to promoting pre-k, and states can and should pursue various options based on their needs, resources, and priorities. Even in a lean fiscal environment, state leaders and advocates have an opportunity to build collaborative relationships, develop infrastructure, and leverage existing resources to develop policy momentum and build grassroots support for the long term.

Pre-K Now re-evaluates states regularly and adjusts the Barometer accordingly.

We encourage all stakeholders - policymakers, teachers, parents, advocates, and community leaders - to use the Barometer to cajole and to coerce state action on pre-k. The Barometer can reveal how well a state measures up regionally or nationally or how all states compare on a specific criterion. Advocates can use the Barometer to identify strategies that are succeeding in states around the country and to affect urgent attention and action from state legislators, executive administrations, and media outlets.

The Political Barometer is not only a measure of states' commitments to early childhood education but also an instrument of real progress in pre-k advocacy.