Report lauds Mississippi preschool quality, knocks size

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A new report says Mississippi's state-funded preschool program, though small, continues to score well on quality measures.

The report, released Wednesday by the National Institute for Early Education Research, says Mississippi's program meets nine of 10 standards set by the institute.

Mississippi is spending $4 million this year to finance groups of public and private agencies in 14 communities that provide preschool classes to 4-year-old children. That will increase by $2.5 million in the budget year beginning July 1.

Nationwide, states provide preschool for about a third of 4-year-olds, but Mississippi's state program reaches only 3 percent of such children.