WV Remains a National Leader in Early Childhood Education

Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) applauds the continued support and hard work of West Virginia’s early learning educators and advocates resulting in the state’s ranking of 4th in the nation for preschool enrollment of four-year-olds. The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) 2024 State of Preschool Yearbook notes that the Mountain State also improved its ranking to 19th (up from 20th) in the nation for serving three-year-olds and remains a national leader for meeting 9 out of the 10 NIEER research-based quality benchmark standards.

Research shows that early education programs are a foundational pillar for student achievement and well-being. Providing families with access to high-quality pre-k programs ensures consistent and developmentally appropriate early childhood care to support school readiness. The WVDE’s Universal Pre-K system operates programs in all 55 counties and makes preschool available to all four-year-olds as well as some three-year-olds at no cost to families.
 
“Our state has shown a commitment to early childhood learning because these programs are crucial as students begin their academic journeys. Our national standing reflects that commitment, and our children and families benefit in a multitude of ways,” said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. “We hope all families take advantage of Universal Pre-K because enrollment is currently open throughout the state.”

More details about these free programs are listed on the Universal Pre-K webpage.
 
According to the NIEER Yearbook, during the 2023-2024 school year:

• West Virginia preschools enrolled 13,864 children, an increase of 133 from the prior year.
• State spending totaled $104,609,046 and an additional $4,464,621 in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds. Additionally, $497,104 in federal recovery funds was used to support the program – an increase of $13,205,354 (14%), adjusted for inflation, over the previous year.
• State spending per child (including TANF and federal recovery funds) equaled $7,903 in 2023-2024, up $885 from 2022-2023, adjusted for inflation.

To learn more about the national report, visit the NIEER website.

The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) conducts academic research to inform policy supporting high-quality, early education for all young children. Such education promotes the physical, cognitive and social development needed for children to succeed in school and later life. NIEER provides independent, research-based analysis and technical assistance to policymakers, journalists, researchers, and educators.