Hawaiʻi Remains a National Leader in Preschool Quality

According to the newly released 2024 State of Preschool Yearbook by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), Hawaiʻi continues to excel in preschool quality, successfully meeting all ten benchmarks for high-quality early learning. Despite this recognition, the state has significantly low enrollment figures, with only 5% of four-year-olds and 2% of three-year-olds participating in state-funded preschool programs, marking it as the lowest among Pacific states. The Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL), alongside Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, is actively working to increase access to preschool by expanding public pre-kindergarten classrooms. Luke emphasized that expanding access to high-quality preschool is essential for empowering all children in Hawaiʻi. The state's efforts are backed by its strong commitment to offering programs that maintain small class sizes and employ qualified educators. Furthermore, the article highlights that nearly 2,000 children in Hawaiʻi could lose access to vital preschool resources such as the Head Start program due to proposed federal funding cuts. This poses a significant challenge that state leaders are aiming to confront by creating new classrooms and forming stronger public-private partnerships across the islands. In light of this, comments from education leaders emphasize the importance of early childhood education as a foundation for lifelong success. While the dedication to preschool quality in Hawaiʻi is clear, the stark contrast between the state's quality record and participation rates raises critical questions about accessibility and equity in early education. State efforts, such as the Ready Keiki plan, reflect a proactive approach, but ongoing federal funding uncertainties threaten to undermine these advancements. It remains to be seen how these challenges will shape the future of preschool education in Hawaiʻi.