Universal pre-K and expanding pre-K access can slow K-12 enrollment declines in public schools and build stability in the early grades, according to a paper released late last month by the Urban Institute, a nonprofit research organization.

The District of Columbia, for example, offers universal pre-K starting with 3-year-olds. The Urban Institute’s analysis found that 3-year-old pre-K participants were 35 percentage points more likely to stay in D.C.’s public schools through kindergarten, and they were 18 percentage points more likely to remain at the same school from pre-K at age 4 to kindergarten compared to peers who didn’t attend preschool.

As school districts across the country face enrollment declines due to decreasing birthrates and private school competition for students, boosting access to pre-K can be one strategy to build families’ confidence in public school systems, the paper said regarding expanding pre-K access.

The Urban Institute’s research points out that although expanding pre-K options alone would not be enough to reverse K-12 public school enrollment declines, early childhood programming can be leveraged to sustain K-12 enrollment. That stability allows districts and schools to better plan for staffing and programs, because funding is based on per-student counts.

On the other hand, declining enrollment can strain resources and force school systems to make controversial decisions like school closures or layoffs in order to balance their budgets.

In terms of expanding pre-K access, the organization recommends districts and states:

  • Expand universal pre-K access to 3-year-olds or launch programming for 4-year-olds.
  • Offer pre-K programs at public schools.
  • Invest in pre-K programs that operate on a school-year schedule and meet the needs of children and families.

“For states and cities looking to rebuild public school enrollment, evidence shows starting early can make a big difference,” the report said about expanding pre-K access.

The Urban Institute’s research shows that the rate of K-12 enrollment in D.C. Public Schools has outperformed the U.S. average since 2010, the year D.C.’s first universal pre-K participants entered kindergarten. During the pandemic, the city’s public schools also experienced higher enrollment stability compared to the national average between 2019 and 2020, according to the organization’s analysis.

Read the full article about expanding pre-K access by Kara Arundel at K-12 Dive.