More and More States Offer Bigger Budgets for Preschool

During this time of economic hardship, it's unfortunately not uncommon to see schools cutting back on costs including extracurricular activities, staff and faculty, offering help to allow at-risk children to attend preschool, and even on classroom products and furniture. Most schools are doing all they can to save money, even if that means some large sacrifices. However, more and more preschools have been recently extending their budget. From putting money toward new preschool tables and activity tables to budgeting money towards at-risk children to attend quality preschools, it's good to know that more money is being dedicated to education. One recent case, where more money is being worked into the budget, includes preschools in Ohio where lawmakers are looking to put millions of additional dollars into providing quality preschool education for at-risk children. 

Finn Laursen, Executive Director of the Christian Educators Association International in Ohio, says studies show 3 and 4 year olds who get good quality preschool grow up to have reduced fewer children out of wedlock and more well-adjusted parents. He says that, in turn, saves taxpayers money. Laursen says studies show right now, that’s something Ohio needs. 

"Ohio is ranked the 4th highest of taxpayer burden for divorce and unwed childbearing of all states in the nation," says Laursen. "We have California at the top, New York second, Texas third and Ohio is fourth. That’s not a good distinction. That’s costing 2.7 billion dollars to taxpayers in Ohio each and every year for unwed childbearing and divorce."

There are currently 130 thousand children in Ohio who are eligible for state subsidized preschool, and currently around six thousand children are being served by public preschools. Those who support this plan say it’s imperative to get as many of those children as possible into quality preschool programs as soon as possible.