The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to set back New York's campaign to make free, high-quality preschool available to all, according to new analysis from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER).

The state served more children and increasedpre-Kspending last year, although spending per child has failed to keep up with inflation,researchers write inNIEERsThe State of Preschool 2019 annual report.

New York enrolls 54 percent of its 4-year-olds and two percent of its 3-year-olds inpre-K. The state is considered a national leader on the issue as one of nine states in the country to serve more than half of its 4-year-olds. according to the report.

Now huge education budget cuts that include pre-K have been proposed and the rest of the state is at risk as well. Without federal assistance, quality and enrollment may be cut, the study's authors say.

Even when the economy has been strong, progress providing state pre-K has been slow and uneven, said Dr. Steven Barnett, NIEERs senior co-director and founder. With another recession likely, extraordinary state and federal action will be needed to ensure our youngest learners are not just protected, but better served.

The report finds that states invest more than $8.7 billion in pre-K, but progress has been uneven, exacerbating inequality in early education opportunities and widening gaps between the best and worst states for educating young children. The expected recession will make progress more difficult.

New York met seven of 10 minimum standards for high-quality preschool education and spent $6,668 in state funds per student. Ten states met fewer than half the minimum standards for quality. State spending per child varies by a factor of 10, from more than $10,000 to less than $1,000.

But while preschool access in New York City is strong, the Times Union has reported on patchy access in the rest of the state, with just 34 percent of superintendents of upstate districts indicating in a 2019 survey that community preschool needs were being met by public and private options.

New York City has led the way for universal access to high-quality, full-day pre-K. Expansion of high-quality pre-K is needed throughout the state, Barnett said. New York City recently increased salaries for public pre-K teachers in community-based organizations but a stronger commitment to parity is required for all pre-K teachers.

Despite the economic outlook, pre-K can be protected and advance because politicians from both sides of the aisle and states with very different political leanings have found common ground in offering high-quality education to young children, Barnett said.

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Report: COVID-19 threatens NY's progress on universal pre-K - Times Union