State pre-K enrollment pre- and post-pandemic

Expanding access to state pre-K is one approach states can take to encourage families to enroll and persist in the public school system, and to combat budget shortfalls related to declining K-12 enrollment. NIEER's latest policy brief looks at enrollment trends pre- and post-pandemic in both state-funded preschool and K-3. 

The proportion of 4-year-olds enrolled in state-funded pre-K programs doubled between 2002 and 2010. However, pre-K enrollment growth slowed by the late 2010s; simultaneously, enrollment in public kindergarten to third grade (K-3) began to decline in many states. Enrollment in both state pre-K and public K-3 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

State pre-K enrollment has surpassed pre-pandemic levels nationally but this varies greatly by state, while public K-3 enrollment remains below pre-pandemic levels nationally. However, stagnation in state pre-K growth and decline in public K-3 enrollment may not be entirely attributable to the pandemic, as 2024-2025 enrollment rates are very close to where they would be if pre-pandemic trends had continued.