Common Causes of Inequity

• Insufficient funding: When overall funding levels are insufficient, inflexible, or not transparent, it can limit a districts’ capacity to provide enough preschool programs for students and families.
• Inaccessible programs: Due to inaccessible application processes, inconvenient locations, or insufficient hours, districts may struggle to provide high-quality preschool to all families of 3- and 4-year-olds.
• Lack of empowering, rigorous content: When the content students learn in preschool is not coordinated with elementary schools, is not culturally or linguistically relevant, or is not developmentally appropriate, students may not be set up for success in their later educational experiences.

Key Questions to Explore

• What are the rates of pre-K enrollment and attendance in our district?
• What are the evaluation scores for pre-K programs in our district, based on standards such as those from the National Association for the Education of Young Children or the National Institute for Early Education Research?
• How do the rates of pre-K enrollment and attendance in highly rated pre-K programs vary across student groups in our district?

What Does the Data Say About High-Quality Early Learning?

Our interactive data resource will help deepen your understanding of how dimensions of resource equity like High-Quality Early Learning play out in schools and districts across the country. As you navigate these interactive stories, you’ll learn how system shifts can lead to more equitable and better student experiences and outcomes.