2017 State of Pre-K
Examination of Mississippi’s pre-kindergarten programs, focusing on accessibility, quality, and recommendations for growth.
The State of Pre-K in Mississippi (2014-2015) is the second report in Mississippi First’s ground-breaking series by the same name, focusing on pre-K access and quality in Mississippi. This report updates our 2011-2012 report on public pre-K and expands it to include information about licensed childcare centers serving four-year-old children. This report is the first in Mississippi attempting to quantify pre-K access—whether public or private—in every Mississippi community. Additionally, this report is the first to present information about the quality of each school district program according to national benchmarks and to include programmatic information about all licensed childcare centers serving four-year-old children.

2017 State of Pre-K
We saw great success in the pre-K in 2014-2015. Get all the details on the state of pre-K in 2014-2015.
Authors

Rachel Canter, Executive Director, 2008-2025

Angela Bass, Former Deputy Director of Policy, 2014-2019
SEE MORE REPORTS & PUBLICATIONS

This toolkit focuses on starting a state-funded early learning collaborative (ELC) program. Learn about the different types of state-funded pre-K programs and what steps you should take when considering starting a specific program. Being able to operate a state-funded collaborative pre-K program is dependent on state funding appropriated by the legislature. The application process for […]

Mississippi First's "2024 Pre-K in Mississippi: Briefing Book" analyzes the state's pre-kindergarten programs, covering history, types, costs, and improvements.

Learn about the five policy priorities for early education in Mississippi that we believe will create a stable and interconnected early childhood system for families, children, and educators.

Survey insights into Mississippians' views on early childhood education and its role in shaping children's futures.

A detailed analysis of public and non-public pre-K access in Mississippi in 2017-2018.

Blended pre-K models allow communities to offer more high-quality pre-K seats without creating additional financial burdens. By strategically using federal and state funds, school districts and Head Start grantees can increase teacher pay, enhance classroom resources, and improve early learning outcomes all while expanding access to families. Who Should Use This Toolkit? School district leaders and superintendents exploring pre-K expansion. […]

In 2013, Mississippi First co-authored the Early Learning Collaborative Act of 2013, establishing the first state-funded pre-K program in Mississippi. Transforming Pre-K in Mississippi tells the remarkable story of the early learning collaboratives after a decade of national sucess and looks to their future in Mississippi. Authors Rachel Canter, Executive Director, 2008-2025 Micayla Tatum, Director […]

Mississippi First began publishing a How To Start A Pre-K Series in 2018. How To Start A Title I Funded Pre-K Program is the second in the series used to advocate increased access to pre-K in Mississippi. Authors Rachel Canter, Executive Director, 2008-2025 Angela Bass, Deputy Director of Policy, 2014-2019

As any fourth grader knows, last in line is an awful place to be. But for Mississippi’s public school fourth graders, last in line in reading and math achievement isn’t a once-in-a-while woe; it is a recurring nightmare. Mississippi has tied for last nearly every year on the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP), also […]

