States without pre-K: eight and dropping

In researching a bill that would create a preschool pilot program, Rep. Hy Kloc cited a factoid long used by early education advocates: Idaho is one of only 10 states that do not fund pre-K.

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Rep. Hy Kloc, D-Boise

As it turns out, Idaho is in an even smaller minority.

Two states are piloting new pre-K programs: Mississippi has a pilot for 1,325 4-year-olds, and Hawaii’s program will serve about 1,000 kids.

“The list is getting shorter and I have no doubt that Idaho will one day join the list of states offering preschool,” Kloc, D-Boise, wrote on his Facebook page Saturday.

The seven other states that do not fund pre-K programs: Indiana, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

Kloc is working on a bill that would create a three-year pre-K pilot. The first 55 percent of the funding would come from private sources.

More reading: Here’s a link to Kloc’s Voices guest opinion on pre-K.

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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