Children playing together in the playroom (Credit: Getty Images – wera Rodswang)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — West Virginia moved up two spots from last year in preschool enrollment rates for 4-year-olds.
A new report from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) shows that West Virginia currently ranks fourth in the nation by meeting 9 out of 10 of the institute's quality benchmark standards. .
The Mountain State has a universal preschool system operated by the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE), which has programs in all 55 counties. These programs are free to families. The 2023 State Preschool Yearbook shows that in West Virginia, 67% of the state's 4-year-olds and 7% of 3-year-olds receive state-funded preschool.
State Superintendent Michelle L. Blatt expressed pride in the program and its success.
“West Virginia continues to be a leader in early childhood education, leveraging our most valuable resources to create foundational learning opportunities,” Blatt said in a press release. “Early learning has a tremendous impact on the growth and development of our children and the future of our Mountain State.”
Universal Pre-K registration is now open and can be completed here.
