High-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten has emerged as an important policy to improve our nation’s education system. Based on strong evidence from rigorous longitudinal research and recent program evaluations, reform-minded principals, superintendents, school board members and other leaders have embraced early education as an effective strategy for reducing the student achievement gap.

With a new infusion of Title I dollars through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, school leaders have an opportunity to expand local pre-k programs to more children.

Although local education agencies have long been able to use federal funding under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act for early education, flat funding over the past several years has limited districts’ ability to do so. Additionally, many K-12 administrators are not aware they can spend Title I dollars on early education.

“New Beginnings: Using Federal Title 1 Funds to Support Local Pre-K Efforts” summarizes:

• • the benefits of employing Title I dollars for  Pre-K,
• • existing guidance from the U.S. Department of Education and examples of districts that are 
    doing so successfully.
• • issues for education leaders to consider in their planning and, 
• • ways to coordinate local initiatives with state pre-k programs.