Cities
There are many cities such as San Antonio, Denver, New York City, etc with pre-k programs. The funding is a combination of federal, state, philanthropy and local tax revenue (lottery, sales).
States
Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma are the three states in the US with some form of universal pre-k.
San Antonio currently has city wide Pre-k that is funded by a 1/8 cent sales tax and has a budget of $36.5 million for FY 2015
San Antonio Pre-k Funding
Texas
Texas currently funds a half-day (3-hour) public school pre kindergarten program for 4-year-olds who are:
- Economically Disadvantaged
- English Language Learners (ELL)
- Children of Military
- In Foster Care
- Homeless
Research shows these students, who have the most to gain, receive the greatest benefit in terms of early learning from enrollment in a full-day, educationally focused pre-k program. High-quality pre-k can close early learning gaps and give each child an equal opportunity to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.
Texas currently enrolls roughly 230,000 students in public school pre-k. While Texas is one of the largest and most accessed public pre-k programs in the country, it ranks 29th in state pre-k spending nationally and meets only minimal quality standards as defined by national early childhood education experts.
Raise Your Hand Texas – Pre K in Texas
Solutions:
- We propose a full day (9-5) of pre kindergarten for Texas residents.
- Create a city or county pre kindergarten program similar to San Antonio and Shelby County and other U.S. cities but funded with a higher Hotel Occupancy Fee
- Close corporate loopholes in the state sales tax
- Close corporate loopholes in the property tax
- Reallocate some of the $800 million wasted on border security
- Create a city or state Public Bank to fund free pre kindergarten
- Create a Revenue Neutral Carbon Tax to fund free state-wide pre kindergarten
- Replace the franchise tax with a simpler Corporate Income Tax
- Reform the Gas Tax to fund free state-wide pre kindergarten
- Reform the Rainy Day Fund
- Repeal the Texas sales tax holiday
- Create a count-wide pre k system modeled after other US counties. Homes valued at $250k would pay an extra $20 a year in property taxes
- Create a state-wide pre k system modeled after other provinces in Canada
- Create a city-wide pre k program similar to the city of seattle would cost a median home owner roughly $20 a month
- Create a city or county pre k program similar to the city of denver for 4 year olds, funded by a 15 cent sales tax on items over $100
Texas Constitution
Code – Education Code
Chapter – 41 Equalized Wealth Level
Chapter – 42 Foundation School Program
NIEER – How Stable Is Funding for State Pre-K?
Kenney: Soda Tax Could Raise $400 Million for Pre-K, Parks, Jobs
Harris County Department of Education
NEA – Policy Makers Should Consider Full-Day Preschool
Enriching Children, Enriching the Nation
NPR – No Child Left Behind, Pre-K Programs Could Be On New Congress’ Agenda
NPR – Seeing success, conservative Oklahoma banks on universal preschool
US News – Setting the Record Straight on State Pre K Programs
Think Progress – Senate Democrats Push Universal Pre-K Amendment For No Child Left Behind Fix
Think Progress – Georgia’s Universal Preschool Program Significantly Improves Children’s Skills
Think Progress – Texas’ Less Than ‘Gold Star’ Pre-K Proposal Is Still Much Better Than Many States
Florida – Funding for VPK and Related Programs
Raise Your Hand Texas – Pre-K Advocacy
New York will begin universal pre-kindergarten
City of San Antonio – Pre-K for San Antonio
Houston Chronicle – House passes ‘gold standard’ pre-K bill
10 Cities In The US And Around The World Providing Pre-Kindergarten
CAP – The United States Is Far Behind Other Countries on Pre-K
Universal pre-K is a long tradition in France, and one that American parents might envy.
WAPO – Is Oklahoma the right model for universal pre-K?
National Journal – You May Be Surprised By The States That Support Pre-K
New York Times – State-Financed Preschool Access in the U.S.
New York Times – What Preschool Means in Sweden
Governor plans to pump $50 million into Georgia’s pre-k programs
Georgia Lottery – $16 billion goes to pre-k and education programs
Texas AFT – Senate Committee Approves Governor’s Pre-K Plan, But Questions Linger
The Nation – The Secret to Funding Universal Pre-K Is Buried in the Tax Code
New York City’s Mayor Proposes Free Universal Preschool for 3-Year-Olds
Georgia’s Universal Preschool Program Significantly Improves Children’s Skills
Next City – Philadelphia Universal Pre-K Gets a Funding Boost
Next City – Preschool in Parks Fans Say Model Could Save Millions for Universal Pre-K
Next City – 12 Cities Team Up on Universal Pre-K
Funding the Future: States’ Approaches to Pre-K Finance 2008 Update
How Tennessee’s pre-K bill could affect education in Texas
USA Today – State of Indiana sets sights on universal pre-K program
Pasadena ISD earns $1.5 million Pre-K grant
The Atlantic – Why Britain Said ‘Yes’ to Universal Preschool
The Atlantic – Why Does America Invest So Little in Its Children?
The Atlantic – What Boston’s Preschools Get Right
The Atlantic – Big Plans for Toddlers in San Antonio
The Atlantic – Why the Mountain West Is Still Holding Out on Pre-K
Texas Tribune – Texas Education Agency Recommends Pre-K Class Size Limits
Huffington Post – These Cities Want The Country To Focus More On Access To Preschool
New Republic – Why America Never Had Universal Child Care
Primer: Cincinnati Public Schools levy – Preschool Promise
Vancouver Sun – Opinion: Real-world guidance for B.C.’s proposed $10-a-day child care plans
How to understand that controversial study of Quebec daycare
How Cities and Counties Are Taking the Lead on Child Care
Germany rules parents with no day care options can sue cities for lost earnings
Houston Press – Entitled to What?
Seattle voters OK preschool measure
Voters in Seattle just taxed themselves to pay for preschool for the poor
Denver leaders plan to ask voters to extend, raise sales tax for preschool program
Tempe could spend $3 million annually on free preschool for children living in poverty
ACT plans to introduce free universal childcare for three-year-olds
Report: Universal Pre-K in Montgomery County Could Cost Up to $128 Million Annually
St. Paul explores a sales tax to subsidize citywide preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds
How universal free preschool in DC helped bring moms back to work
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