Pre-K for All Initiative Director spotlights the benefits of universal preschool

Establishing universal preschool has been high on Governor Andy Beshear's list of priorities since he was reelected. Sam Flynn, the Executive Director of the Pre-K for All Initiative, shared how universal preschool would provide educational and economic benefits at Monday’s Pennyrile Area Development District meeting.

The initiative was created in June with the mission of ensuring that 4-year-olds in Kentucky have access to a preschool education that prepares them for kindergarten. Flynn says 46% of Kentucky's children were prepared to start kindergarten in the 2023-24 school year, and nationally, that rate was around 64%.

Among the counties in the Pennyrile Area Development District, Flynn shared that in only Caldwell and Livingston Counties, over 50% of their four-year-olds were ready for kindergarten in the 2023-2024 school year. In Christian County, the kindergarten readiness rate was 42%; in Trigg County, it was 45% and in Todd County, it was 37%.

To increase elementary school readiness, Flynn says members of the initiative’s advisory committee have been tasked with connecting with families concerning their experiences with early childhood education; studying the state’s current preschool education model and looking into how neighboring states are preparing their youngest learners for school.

Over the summer, members of the initiative hosted five town halls in Kentucky to connect with families and local educators to hear about their preschool concerns and needs. At each town hall, Flynn says educators spotlighted the positive impacts of universal preschool.

Flynn says universal preschool could also alleviate childcare shortages across the state. Flynn says 49 of Kentucky’s 120 counties are classified as childcare deserts. To not be designated as a childcare desert, a county must have available childcare options for one-third of the children residing in that county.

Flynn calls the lack of childcare a huge factor in reducing workforce numbers. He says some parents can’t find available or affordable childcare and end up having to stay home with their children.

According to a 2019 study from the White House, Flynn says researchers estimated that around 10.4 million Americans would go back to work if they had access to childcare or early child education opportunities for their children. Around 86% of those willing to return to work were reportedly women.

Flynn says members of the initiative are currently drafting a report that will be sent to lawmakers ahead of next year’s legislative session. If lawmakers vote to establish universal preschool, Flynn says it won’t be implemented across the state overnight but possibly over the course of a decade.