Prekindergarten Education
In 2023, the share of Maine four-year-olds enrolled in public pre-Ks rose 5%.
Favorable movement since the last available data
Benchmark: There will be universal preschool access in Maine by the 2026-2027 school year.
Overview
High-quality, affordable early care and education is critical to Maine’s economic development. It prepares young Mainers for success in school and supports their parents’ full participation in the workforce, a fact highlighted during the COVID pandemic.
In 2023, a new state law established the goal of “universal access” to public preschool for all Maine four-year-olds by the 2026-2027 school year. The National Institute for Early Education Research estimates that 47% of Maine four-year-olds were enrolled in public pre-K in 2022-2023, surpassing pre-COVID levels and exceeding the U.S. average of 35%. The remaining 53% of Maine children were not enrolled. The extent to which this was due to lack of access or family choice is unknown. A significant number of unenrolled children may be part of the 9% of Maine four-year-olds in Head Start programs. They may also be receiving Special Education services.
The percentage of Maine school districts with at least one public pre-K classroom has increased dramatically, from 24% in the late 2000s to 85% last year. According to the Maine Department of Education, many districts that do not yet offer public pre-K are either very small and lack enough four-year-olds to justify a program, or are larger and may lack the space, capacity, and/or financial means to open and sustain a program.
Fig. A
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Maine Public School Districts Offering Pre-K Programs
Source: Maine Department of Education student enrollment data