New Hampshire is one of just six states nationwide that does not offer free preschool education to four-year-olds.
Luckily, New Hampshire lawmakers want to change this by bringing state-funded, mixed-delivery pre-kindergarten to New Hampshire. With a mixed delivery program, parents can choose where to send their children to preschool - whether that's a licensed child care center that meets certain requirements, a private preschool program, or their local public school pre-kindergarten program.
Why It Matters
Ample evidence demonstrates that access to pre-kindergarten, particularly for low-income families, has lasting positive impacts on children beyond the early years, including higher rates of high school graduation, fewer suspensions, and fewer experiences with juvenile incarceration.
Additionally, a New Hampshire-specific study conducted by the RAND Corporation concluded a $2 dollar return on investment for every state dollar invested in pre-k. Currently, children in low-income families and children in crisis are far less likely to be able to access pre-k. These children, who are arguably the most in need, often come to first grade less prepared and face greater challenges than their peers.
By the Numbers
$2
A New Hampshire-specific study conducted by the RAND corporation concluded a $2 dollar return on investment for every state dollar invested in pre-k.
Our Impact
New Futures has advocated for state investment in early education for years. In 2017, New Futures helped secure adequate funding for statewide full-day kindergarten, which supports the over 10,000 New Hampshire children enrolled in kindergarten. State investment in pre-k has been more challenging. In 2018, efforts to include it in the 2018 Start Healthy, Stay Healthy campaign did not succeed. In 2023, New Futures supported a pilot pre-k program, which was retained in committee.
