Strengthen Texas Pre-K

Texas currently provides schools districts with funding for voluntary, half-day pre-K for some of the most at risk four-year-olds who meet certain criteria. A study from Texas A&M University found that every dollar invested by local communities in early care and education could provide a return of $3.50. These savings are realized in part through fewer children being referred to special education programs and/or retained a year in school. However, it is unlikely that Texas is currently receiving such a high level of savings because many districts do not have -- and the state does not require -- key quality standards such as appropriate student-teacher ratios. The National Institute for Early Education Research reports that Texas is the only state in the nation that meets just two of ten quality benchmarks.

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