The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) recognized Mississippi in its latest report on pre-K quality as one of only five states whose publicly funded pre-K program meets nine of NIEER’s 10 new quality standards for early childhood education.
The latest ranking is published in NIEER’s State of Preschool 2017, an annual report that presents data on the state of pre-K programs nationally as well as breakdowns of each state’s progress in providing high-quality pre-K services to 3- and 4-year-olds.
NIEER evaluated Mississippi’s Early Learning Collaborative (ELC) programs, which are partnerships among school districts, Head Start agencies, child care centers, and non-profit organizations.
The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) partnered with the Mississippi Department of Education earlier this year to showcase the progress the state has made through its Early Learning Collaborative programs.
In its 2015 and 2016 State of Preschool reports, NIEER recognized Mississippi’s ELCs for meeting all 10 quality standards for early childhood education, making Mississippi one of only five states in the nation that met all 10 benchmarks.
“Mississippi’s Early Learning Collaborative program has proven that high-quality early childhood education prepares children for success in kindergarten and has a lasting impact on student learning over time,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education for Mississippi. “Increased access to high-quality early childhood education is one of the key drivers of rising student achievement in Mississippi.”
Learn more about the progress Mississippi is making to expand access to high-quality early childhood education on the website here: http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/TD/news/2018/04/18/2017-state-of-preschool-report-highlights-mississippi-s-high-quality-pre-k
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