Record Increase in Preschool Enrollment Among 4-Year-Olds
Thenumberof4-year-oldsinstate-fundedpreschoolsroselastschoolyear.
上學年，公立幼兒園的4歲兒童人數增加。
1.8 millionchildrenwereenrolledintheseprograms.
共有 180 萬名兒童參加了這些計畫。
Thisincreasewashelpedbystatessupportinguniversalaccess.
各國支持普及醫療服務促進了這一成長。
Therewasalsounprecedentedspendingof $14.4 billion.
此外，支出也達到了前所未有的144億美元。
However, theincreasewassmallerthanthepreviousyear.
然而，增幅小於前一年。
Accesstopreschoolsvariesgreatlybetweenstates.
各州之間學前教育的普及程度差異很大。
Somestatesevenhavefewerchildrenenrollednow.
現在有些州的入學兒童人數甚至更少了。
Californiahadthelargestgain, with 25,000 additionalstudents.
加州增幅最大，新增學生25,000人。
Theymadeall4-year-oldseligiblefortransitionalkindergarten.
他們讓所有 4 歲兒童都有資格入讀過渡幼兒園。
ButCaliforniadidnotmeetmanyqualitystandardsforpreschools.
但加州的幼兒園並沒有達到許多品質標準。
Privatepreschoolownersareworriedabouttheenrollmentinpublicprograms.
私立幼兒園的經營者擔心公立幼兒園的招生。
Somestateshavegoodpreschoolprograms, likeHawaii, butserveonly10%.
有些州，例如夏威夷州，擁有良好的學前教育項目，但僅涵蓋了 10% 的人口。
High-qualitypreschoolisimportantforfuturesuccess.
高品質的學前教育對未來的成功至關重要。
Ithelpschildrenbereadyforkindergartenandsucceedinschool.
它能幫助孩子做好上幼兒園的準備，並在學校取得成功。
Thereareconcernsabouttherisingcostsofchildcare.
人們擔心托兒費用不斷上漲。
Manyfamiliesdependonstate-fundedpreschoolprograms.
許多家庭依賴州政府資助的學前教育計畫。
Privatepreschoolcanbeveryexpensive, averagingover $12,000 ayear.
私立幼兒園費用可能非常昂貴，平均每年超過 12,000 美元。
Somefamiliesmayqualifyforhelpiftheyhavelowincomes.
有些低收入家庭可能符合獲得幫助的條件。
However, thenumberofchildreninhelpprogramsisgoingdown.
然而，接受援助計畫的兒童人數正在下降。
Federalsupportforearlyeducationisalsodecreasing.
聯邦政府對早期教育的支持也在減少。
SomestateswithRepublicanleadershavegoodpreschoolprograms.
一些由共和黨人領導的州擁有良好的學前教育計畫。
Forexample, Oklahomaintroduceduniversalpreschoolinthelate1990s.
例如，俄克拉荷馬州在 20 世紀 90 年代末引入了普及學前教育。
NewYorkhasstruggledwithpreschoolenrollmentdespitehavingauniversalprograminNewYorkCity.
儘管紐約市實行普及學前教育計劃，但紐約市的學前教育入學率一直不高。
Georgia'sprogrammeetsallqualitystandardssetforpreschools.
喬治亞州的學前教育課程符合所有學前教育品質標準。
The number of 4-year-olds in state-funded preschools rose last school year.
1.8 million children were enrolled in these programs.
This increase was helped by states supporting universal access.
There was also unprecedented spending of $14.4 billion.
However, the increase was smaller than the previous year.
Access to preschools varies greatly between states.
Some states even have fewer children enrolled now.
California had the largest gain, with 25,000 additional students.
They made all 4-year-olds eligible for transitional kindergarten.
But California did not meet many quality standards for preschools.
Private preschool owners are worried about the enrollment in public programs.
Some states have good preschool programs, like Hawaii, but serve only 10%.
High-quality preschool is important for future success.
It helps children be ready for kindergarten and succeed in school.
There are concerns about the rising costs of childcare.
Many families depend on state-funded preschool programs.
Private preschool can be very expensive, averaging over $12,000 a year.
Some families may qualify for help if they have low incomes.
However, the number of children in help programs is going down.
Federal support for early education is also decreasing.
Some states with Republican leaders have good preschool programs.
For example, Oklahoma introduced universal preschool in the late 1990s.
New York has struggled with preschool enrollment despite having a universal program in New York City.
Georgia's program meets all quality standards set for preschools.
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