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NIEER's latest press releases are listed below.
Mar 19, 2008
State-Funded Preschool Enrollment Passes One Million Mark, Yet Most 3- and 4-Year-Olds are Denied Access to Public Preschool Programs
State-funded preschools served over one million children last year, yet public pre-K was unavailable for most 3- and 4-year-olds, according to the annual survey released today by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER).
Mar 17, 2008
Advisory: State-Funded Preschool Enrollment Sets New Record Yet Most 3- and 4-Year-Olds are Denied Access to Public Preschool Programs
Preschool remains the most dynamic segment of the education system, with state-funded programs now serving more than a million children. Spending per child is up and so is the quality of state preschool education. But the picture is not all rosy. Twelve states have no state-funded preschools.
Nov 28, 2007
Preschool program shown to improve key cognitive functions (including working memory and control of attention and action)
An innovative preschool curriculum, called "Tools of the Mind" holds hope for improving academic achievement of children from poor families; reducing the achievement gap between children from poorer versus wealthier homes; and reducing the number of diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Nov 8, 2007
New Report on Preschool Participation Nationally Highlights Vast Inequities
The nation is failing to meet the need for preschool education, and those with the least access are children from low-income, poorly educated families who live in the West and Midwest, according to a report released today by an early education research unit of Rutgers University.
Aug 15, 2007
State Preschool Programs Overlooking Facility Needs
A new report contends that unless states develop policies and strategies to address the need for new and better facilities, preschool education programs run the risk of falling short of their goals.
Aug 9, 2007
Access to High-Quality Pre-K Severely Limited for Children from Lower Middle-Income Families
When schools open this year, working families with household incomes in the $30,000 to $50,000 range will be hard-pressed to afford high-quality preschool education for their children.
Aug 2, 2007
New Study Shows New Mexico's PreK Initiative Improves Language and Math Abilities of Children
New Mexico 4-year-olds who participated in the state's pre-K initiative show greater improvement in early language, literacy and math development compared to children who did not, according to a new study of the program released today by a national research institute.
Jun 18, 2007
Op-Ed: Why Mississippi should be funding early childhood education
More than half of Mississippi's young children live below 200 percent of the poverty line and 40 percent live in a single-parent family.
Jun 14, 2007
New Study Finds Abbott Preschools Cut Achievement Gap
A new study of New Jersey's Abbott Preschool Program shows that children in the state's most disadvantaged communities who participate in the program continue to make significant gains in literacy, language and math and that two years of preschool dramatically increases their learning.
Mar 29, 2007
Op-ed: Let's Not Hit the Child Care Panic Button Just Yet
Parents on a guilt trip after reading this week's widely reported news that non-maternal child care and education causes aggressive behavior in children as late as 6th grade should relax a little.
Mar 14, 2007
Unstable Funding Mars Advances In State-Funded Preschool
State-funded preschool continues to be the most rapidly expanding segment of the U.S. educational system but in many states the commitment to early education is fickle: funding is as likely to be cut as it is to be increased.
Jan 25, 2007
New Study Shows Arkansas Better Chance State Preschool Program Improves Language and Math Abilities of Children
A new study of the Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) state-funded preschool education program shows significant improvement in 4-year-old children's early language, literacy and mathematical development.
Dec 21, 2006
Rutgers Bestows One of University's Highest Honors On NIEER Director; Cited W. Steven Barnett's excellence, national and international acclaim
The nationally recognized director of the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) received one of Rutgers University's highest honors recently when he was named a Board of Governors Professor.
Dec 14, 2006
Early Education Expert Shares Love of Reading with Preschoolers
Early education expert Ellen Frede watched the eyes of preschool children light up as she read Mrs. Wishy Washy to them in an effort to raise awareness about The Bridge of Books Foundation's holiday book drive and stress the importance of early literacy for young children.
Dec 11, 2006
Education Expert Shares Joy of Reading with Preschoolers
You might not expect to see preschoolers nestled in the comfy chairs and sofas of Starbucks, but at 10:30 a.m., December 14 at the George Street Starbucks in New Brunswick, some 30 preschoolers will share a holiday treat when early education expert Ellen Frede will read a special children's story to them as part of Starbucks' drive to collect books for The Bridge of Books Foundation.
Nov 7, 2006
Arkansas Better Chance Program Meets Nine out of Ten Quality Standard Benchmarks
Arkansas' state-funded preschool program meets nine quality standard benchmarks, rather than the 10 it was originally given credit for when The State of Preschool: 2005 State Preschool Yearbook was issued by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) in March 2006.
Nov 1, 2006
Op-Ed: Doing Right by Number 300 Million ...
We are indeed fortunate in this country to have human capital with the potential to keep our country prosperous. Before that can happen, we need to invest in it, and that begins with early childhood education.
Nov 1, 2006
Many Preschoolers Shut Out of High Quality Programs
The importance of young children entering kindergarten prepared to learn is not lost on most parents, and armed with that knowledge, more and more parents diligently search for high quality preschool education programs for their 3- and 4-year-olds.
Aug 24, 2006
NJ's Top Education Official Reads The Little Engine That Could Classic To Preschoolers, Stresses Importance of Adults Reading to Young Children
New Jersey's Commissioner of Education and early literacy advocate Lucille E. Davy read the story with its powerful "I think I can" message to the 4-year-olds at an event sponsored by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) and Starbucks in partnership with Jumpstart's Read for the Record national campaign.
Aug 23, 2006
Op-Ed: What Kind Of Pre-K House Hath Florida Built?
Looking at Florida's Voluntary Prekindergarten Program (VPK) one year after its launch, one is left wondering how far off the mark the program really is.
Aug 17, 2006
Nationally Recognized Early Childhood Education Expert Named Co-Director of Preschool Research Think Tank
Ellen Frede, Ph.D., a developmental psychologist widely recognized for her role in the court decision requiring preschool in New Jersey's 31 poorest school districts, was recently named co-director of the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER).
Aug 17, 2006
NJ's Top Education Official Reads The Little Engine That Could Classic to Preschoolers
Some 30 New Brunswick preschoolers will hear the classic tale with its powerful "I think I can" message when the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) and Starbucks sponsor a reading of the The Little Engine That Could as part of the national "Read for the Record" campaign encouraging adults across America to read to young children.
Jun 16, 2006
New Study Sees No Shortage of Teachers If Preschool for All Pay Is Competitive
As Illinois expands its preschool program to serve all 3- and 4-year-olds, there should be no shortage of qualified teachers if early childhood centers pay competitive salaries, according to a new study released today.
May 18, 2006
Researchers See Educational, Economic Benefits of California Preschool Ballot Initiative
A California ballot initiative that would establish a statewide, voluntary preschool program for all 4 year olds offers substantial educational and economic benefits to the state and its residents, according to a policy analysis by a leading research institute that studies state-funded preschool programs.
May 16, 2006
New Study Shows Full-Day Pre-kindergarten Helps Kids Do Better In Literacy and Math; Closes Gap Between Rich and Poor
City Council Speaker Quinn Lauds Preschool Study; Joins Educators for Report Release at Manhattan Preschool
Mar 23, 2006
State-Funded Preschool Programs Serving More Children, But Spending Less Per Child
The annual report on state preschool initiatives shows that state-funded programs increased enrollment by more than 100,000 4-year-olds from 2002 to 2005, but state spending per child is down and enrollment actually declined in 11 states.
Dec 6, 2005
New Study Shows High Quality State Pre-K Programs Improve Language and Math Abilities of Children of All Backgrounds
A new study of high quality prekindergarten programs in five states reveals significant improvement in children's early language, literacy and mathematical development, improvement far greater than found in a recent national study of the federal Head Start program.
Dec 6, 2005
New Study Shows Michigan's Pre-K Program Improves Language and Math Abilities of Children of All Backgrounds
A new study of the Michigan School Readiness Program for 4-year-olds shows significant improvement in children's early language, literacy and mathematical development.
Dec 6, 2005
New Study Finds New Jersey's Abbott Pre-K Program Improves Language and Math Abilities of Children of All Backgrounds
A new study of New Jersey's Abbott Preschool Program for children in the state's most disadvantaged communities, shows significant improvement in 4-year-olds' early language, literacy and mathematical development.
Dec 6, 2005
New Study Shows Oklahoma's Pre-K Program Improves Language and Math Abilities of Children of All Backgrounds
A new study of Oklahoma's Early Childhood Four-Year-Old Program shows significant improvement in children's early language, literacy and mathematical development, improvement far greater than shown in a recent national study of the federal Head Start program.
Dec 6, 2005
New Study Shows South Carolina's Pre-K Programs Improve Language and Literacy Abilities of Children of All Backgrounds
A new study of South Carolina's two preschool programs for 4-year-olds found significant improvement in children's early language and literacy development, improvement far greater than shown in a recent national study of the federal Head Start program.
Dec 6, 2005
New Study Shows West Virginia's Pre-K Program Improves Language and Math Abilities of Children of All Backgrounds
A new study of West Virginia's Early Childhood Education Program for 4-year-olds shows significant improvement in children's early language, literacy and mathematical development, improvement far greater than shown in a recent national study of the federal Head Start program.
Jun 13, 2005
Head Start: A Good Idea That Needs to Deliver
The Director of the National Institute for Early Education Research, W. Steven Barnett, said today that the recently released study of the impact of the federal Head Start Program shows that the program can make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged children but must do more to deliver on that promise.
May 3, 2005
Massive National Study Finds Many Prekindergarten Teachers Underpaid; Others Lacking Required Credentials
Seven out of ten teachers in state-funded prekindergarten programs earn salaries in the low-income category and one in six works a second job to make ends meet, according to a just-released report from the National Prekindergarten Study.
Nov 22, 2004
Annual Survey Finds High-Quality State Preschool Programs Are the Exception, Not the Rule
The second annual survey of state preschool programs found a huge disparity in availability from state to state and even within state boundaries.
Oct 21, 2004
New Research Debunks Myths About Preschool
Children from families of modest income, not the poor, have the least access to preschool in the United States.
Jun 24, 2004
New NIEER Research: Has The Time Arrived For All Children to Have Access to High Quality Preschool?
A new research report examines the pros and cons of making publicly funded
preschool programs available to all children versus only those who are at
risk of failure.
Apr 12, 2004
Op-Ed: Pre-K Legislation Suffers from Political Bait and Switch: Another Florida Fiasco?
What Florida voters thought they were ordering through the state referendum is not what they will get in plans currently under consideration.
Mar 30, 2004
National Prekindergarten Expert Slams Misuse of Screening Tests to Determine Kindergarten Readiness
Scores from a disability screening test are inaccurately and improperly being used as evidence that 84% of the state's children are ready for kindergarten said a leading national expert on prekindergarten today.
Feb 27, 2004
Study Shows 90 Percent of NJ Teachers to Meet Degree Deadline
A Rutgers University report released today said that 90 percent of preschool teachers in New Jersey's 30 most disadvantaged school districts could earn a Bachelor's degree with early childhood certification by the court-ordered deadline of Sept. 2004.
Feb 19, 2004
Survey Finds States Are Failing Nation's Children With Inadequate Preschool Programs
A landmark survey of state preschool programs found that the states are "failing our nation's children" with ten states spending nothing at all and the level of funding "embarrassingly low in many, perhaps most other states."
Feb 16, 2004
Media Advisory: 50-State Survey points to States' Failure to Invest in Quality Preschool
First-of-its kind national survey finds that children suffer from limited access, inadequate resources, and low quality of state preschool programs.
Dec 19, 2003
Op-Ed: We Don't Want Kindergarten Cops
Imagine a "terrible twos" mindset, but in a stronger 5-year-old, a more
irritable 13-year-old, or a much more cocky 19-year-old. Aggression
doesn't peak sometime in the teens as many think, but when we are much
younger - just before the age of two, according to research on the brain and
behavior.
Oct 28, 2003
New Study Findings: Children Get Greater Boost in School, Thanks to High-Quality Preschool
Children who attend high quality, universal preschool programs enjoy better skills when they enter school, according to a powerful new Georgetown University study released today that points to teacher quality and pay in the public schools as likely reasons for improved readiness.
Sep 8, 2003
Economic Expert Predicts High Returns on PNC Investment in Kids
A leading early childhood education expert today applauded the PNC Financial Services' Grow Up Great initiative, the largest corporate financial commitment to early education.
Jul 21, 2003
State Preschool Budgets Cut in Wake of Unprecedented Budget Crises
Nearly half of 18 polled states cut state preschool programs in state FY '04 budgets, with the remaining half funding the programs only at previous year levels, said a leading early education policy expert. A poll taken by the National Institute for Early Education Research looked at the status of state preschool programs in the face of unprecedented state budget crises.
Jul 16, 2003
Leading Authority Disputes Child Care Statements
The head of the National Institute for Early Education Research took issue today with statements about a study of children in child care, calling them "a disservice to every parent who worries about making the best choice for their children.
Jul 9, 2003
Who's Teaching Your Child?
Three- and four-year-olds learn the most – socially, emotionally and academically – when their teachers have a college degree and some background in early childhood development. Decades of research show that a high-quality preschool experience, with a qualified teacher, can prepare children adequately for success in kindergarten and, subsequently, throughout life. Long-range studies reveal that children who attend high-quality preschools are more likely to graduate high school and college and have higher lifetime earnings.
May 22, 2003
Head Start Proposal Advocates For More Teachers With Degrees
NIEER Director Steve Barnett lauded the teacher provisions of the House Head Start Reauthorization proposal released today that calls for increased numbers of teachers who hold college degrees with specialized training in early childhood development. He also called for authorization of additional funding to ensure the intent of the proposal can be met.
Dec 5, 2002
From Low-Tech to High-Tech: Worthy, Stimulating Holiday Gifts
Searching for just the right gift for that special three- or four-year-old on your holiday shopping list? Looking for something that is fun, promotes learning and keeps the child's interest long past the holidays? A national research organization released tips today on selecting books and technology products to help gift buyers find presents that will put the sparkle in their eyes and enrich their learning capacities at the same time.
Nov 20, 2002
Quality Preschool Education Pays Off
For every dollar spent on high-quality early education programs, taxpayers can expect four dollars in benefits. These programs not only lead to greater academic success, they boost lifetime earnings for participants and their mothers.
Sep 19, 2002
Espinosa Begins Work as NIEER Co-Director
The new Co-Director of the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) says America is ready for a major breakthrough in providing quality preschool.
Sep 13, 2002
Head Start Works, But Needs More Funding and Better Teachers
"Inadequate funding hurts Head Start's ability to hire and retain highly qualified staff and hurts staff morale. Both of these things are likely to reduce educational quality."
Aug 20, 2002
Poll Shows Voters Want States to Fund Quality Preschool for All 3- and 4-Year Olds
87% of voters surveyed say state governments should provide funding to allow every American family to send its 3-and 4-year old children to a good preschool.
Jul 30, 2002
National Institute Launches a Powerful New Resource in the Drive for High Quality Preschool
An important new resource for research and information on early education is now available with the launch of nieer.org.
Jun 27, 2002
Investment in pre-K will save Florida billions of dollars
A state investment in quality pre-kindergarten for 4-year-olds will save Florida between $2 billion and $3 billion per each wave of 4-year-olds, according to a nationally recognized expert in education economics.
Jan 14, 2002
Pew Trusts awards Rutgers $5.3 million grant for national institute
Rutgers' Graduate School of Education (GSE) has been awarded a $5.3 million grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts to establish a national institute for the research and support of early childhood education initiatives.
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