Texas Lags in Pre-K Quality, Despite Access

0:00Texas is lagging behind other states in delivering top-notch pre-K to three and four-year-olds. A new national report reveals the state only meets two out of ten key quality standards, solid early learning guidelines, and routine checks for. Vision, hearing, and immunizations. Stuff like specialized teacher training, smaller class sizes, and better staff to kid ratios. We fell short there. This year's state of preschool yearbook, dropped by Rutgers University's National Institute for Early Education Research, sizes of programs across. 44 states in DC, Texas, shines in access, signing up more than half of all four-year-olds, but quality demands more cash and tougher. Benchmarks. Experts are calling it out loud. NIEE Ares, Steve Barnett, says smart investments in strong pre-K build brighter futures for kids and save taxpayers money long-term. He urges Texas to eye neighbors like Oklahoma and New Mexico who nail those quality marks.

1:00On access, Texas sits 12 for four-year-olds and 16 for three-year-olds, slipping one spot from last year. Spending per child? Dead last at 37th, down from 35th, with $4,395 per kid after an 8 percent. Relation adjusted cut to $996,600,000 total. Lawmakers did push House Bill 2 this session, widening eligibility for teachers' kids and steering funds to childcare partners with schools. To close the gap, though, Texas needs to pop up that funding and lift those standards for real impact. I'm Cory with The Story, and you've been listening to Dallas News today, AI-powered local news.