U.S. could have universal preschool in 30 years, report says

Even as President Joe Biden rolls out his proposal to rebuild the nation’s child care infrastructure, the National Institute for Early Education at Rutgers University has released a report that shows how the U.S. could have universal preschool within the next 30 years.

Right now, the nation’s public preschools currently serve only 1.8 million children, the report says, widening existing achievement gaps. This plan prioritizes both raising the quality of programs and enrolling children from low-income families first. 

“At its current pace and without federal government leadership, the United States won’t reach all children with free preschool before 2100,” said Steven Barnett, founder and senior co-director of the institute. “This proposed cost-sharing partnership provides a measured and predictable path to universal high-quality preschool within a reasonable time frame.”

States are more likely to invest more in preschool education if they receive federal help, experts say. That’s why this plan asks the federal government to match state and local investments for children under 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

Researchers estimate the two-part plan would cost the federal government $7.7 billion and state and local governments $13.3 billion during the first four years. The goal is to enroll all low-income 3- and 4-year-olds within 20 years and then expand to all 3- and 4-year-olds in an additional 10 years.

“With each year we delay,” as the report says, “a new group of children miss out on critical years of education they will never get back.”