The City of Tempe is making strides in early childhood education. It's an instance where government efforts to address the preschool shortage not only paid off but served as a beacon for what can happen when resources are smartly allocated towards the development of our youngest minds, according to an evaluation conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago.
The evaluation, backed by a hefty $1.3 million grant from the Helios Education Foundation, put forth compelling evidence: Tempe PRE, the city's preschool program, has enhanced kindergarten readiness and paved the way for parents to climb up the educational and career ladders. Given for free to families starting in 2017, Tempe PRE was a response to a troublesome figure published in a 2017 study that had only about one in three of Tempe's 3- and 4-year-olds sitting in a preschool classroom. It left an estimated 1,000 little learners per year without access to early education.
Funded by the city council and nestled within Tempe Elementary and Kyrene school districts, Tempe PRE embodies a full-day program that goes beyond the call of duty, offering before- and after-school care to accommodate working parents. Marc Hernandez, the director of NORC’s Early Childhood Research & Practice Collaborative, highlighted the gap in access to preschool programs, especially for children from low-income backgrounds, who, as of 2019, saw a worrying 47% non-enrollment rate nationally.
The program's teachers, drawing salaried parallels with district kindergarten educators, were trained to roll out a curriculum that wasn't just about play but structured learning. One parent, in a statement obtained by the evaluation report, noted, "One of the things we loved the most is that there is more of like a curriculum for them, it’s not just play all day. There is play, but they are actively learning things and that is what we were looking for for [our child]." The evidence suggested that participating students were not just showing up to kindergarten, but arriving prepared and emotionally equipped to thrive.
Feedback from families and educators encapsulates a sense of gratitude and relief. With one principal, as found in the evaluation results by NORC, reported saying, “We’ve had parents get jobs. We’ve had parents, you know, be able to get better housing. So, all of those things, I think have really improved the quality of life for those families." And it's not just talk; the City Council has been listening closely, making moves to ensure the program's continuity and expansion. As of 2023, Tempe PRE received permanent funding, with current capabilities to serve 200 children across eleven classrooms in eight school campuses.
In what could be seen as a cascade of progressive policy-making, Tempe PRE's classrooms are also linked to Quality First, a collaborative effort aiming at enhancing early childhood programming in Arizona. The program's success has now set the educational policy benchmark, possibly igniting a flame for other cities to spark similar initiatives. Tim Burch, Tempe’s Community Health and Human Services director, said to the evaluation team, "By clearly defining the program’s benefits, we were able to expand our reach to more children and families who otherwise would not have had access to this education and care." It’s an example to other city councils that investing in preschools isn’t just about the kids — it’s about building stronger communities from the ground up.
