Nevada

Overview

During the 2024-2025 school year, Nevada preschool enrolled 4,288 children, an increase of 682 from the prior year. State spending totaled $37,103,037, and an additional $2,457,858 in federal recovery funds supported the program, up $3,923,860 (11%), adjusted for inflation, since last year. State spending per child (including federal recovery funds) equaled $9,226 in 2024-2025, down $657 from 2023-2024, adjusted for inflation. Nevada met 7 of 10 quality standards benchmarks.

What's New

The 2023 Legislative session passed the Early Childhood Innovation Literacy Program (ECILP) to expand and enhance a literacy program for children under the age of six. The $70 million allocated funds were used to increase access to State Pre-K through expanding income eligibility and including 3-year-olds, early literacy-related innovations and interventions, and funding for infrastructure needs related to serving students under 6-years-old. The last year ECILP was funded was 2024-2025, making 3-year-olds no longer eligible for state-funded pre-K.

In December 2022, Nevada was awarded a federal Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B–5) renewal grant for $10 million. Funds are being used for a variety of activities including funding a pilot program which will allow family child care homes to participate in state-funded preschool.

Background

The Nevada Ready! State Pre-K (NR!PK) (formerly known as the Nevada State Pre-Kindergarten Program) began in 2001. Programs operate in both community-based organizations and school districts. During the 2024-2025 school year, NR!PK operated in 12 LEAs (2 with ECILP funding), 3 Nevada Institutions of Higher Education (NSHE), and 4 CBOs. In total, 13 of 17 counties offer State Pre-K. The Office of Early Learning and Development (OELD) within the Nevada Department of Education (NDE) is responsible for administering multiple early childhood state and federal funding sources, including State Pre-K. Beginning in 2019- 2020, pre-K funds were no longer awarded through competitive grants but were instead distributed to existing school districts or programs based on the previous year’s final expenditures.

Districts and programs determine eligibility based on highest need, which can include children from low-income families, those who are homeless, English Language Learners, or children receiving special education services. NR!PK eligibility is set at 200% of FPL based on the 2018 Preschool Development Grant (PDG) initial grant requirements. All students in the NR!PK program must meet eligibility requirements. However, programs and classrooms that braid funds may serve students from multiple program funding sources within the same classroom.

Nevada Ready! State Pre-K

Access

Total state pre-K enrollment	4,288
School districts that offer state program	71% (LEAs) & 4 community-based organizations
Income requirement	200% FPL (NR!PK); 250% FPL (ECILP)
Minimum hours of operation	5 hours/day or 25 hours/week
Operating schedule	Determined locally
Special education enrollment, ages 3 and 4	5,029
Federally funded Head Start enrollment, ages 3 and 4	2,122
State-funded Head Start enrollment, ages 3 and 4	0

Resources

*Pre-K programs may receive additional funds from federal or local sources that are not included in this figure. †Head Start per-child spending includes funding only for 3- and 4-year-olds. ‡K–12 expenditures include capital spending as well as current operating expenditures.