Oklahoma

Overview of Pre-K Program-Early Childhood Four-Year-Old Program

  • Program is free, voluntary and open to all four-year-old children who have not attended a public kindergarten program.
  • Funding is provided directly to districts through the school finance formula. Districts may then sub-contract to other providers by placing public school teachers into community programs, private centers and Head Start programs.
  • All teachers must hold a bachelor’s degree and early childhood certificate. They are paid on the same salary schedule as other public school teachers.

Brief History of Oklahoma’s Pre-K Program

  • 1980 Oklahoma launches pilot preschool program where public schools can apply for grants to provide model pre-k programs for four year olds.
  • 1990 Legislation is passed to fund pre-k programs through the state funding formula for children who meet Head Start eligibility guidelines.  Other students may attend programs, but families must pay tuition based on a sliding scale.
  • 1998 New legislation is passed to provide funding for all four-year-old children regardless of income.
  • 2009 Program serves more than 36,000 children.

Evaluations of Oklahoma’s Pre-K Program

Providing Preschool Education for All 4-Year-Olds: Lessons from Six State Journeys, NIEER 2009.
An Effectiveness-Based Evaluation of Five State Pre-Kindergarten Programs, Study looks at Michigan, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina and West Virginia, 2008.
The Effects of Oklahoma’s Early Childhood Four-Year-Old Program on Young Children’s School Readiness, Report prepared by the National Institute for Early Education Research, Rutgers University, 2005.
The Effects of Oklahoma’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program on School Readiness Report prepared by the Center for Research on Children in the U.S., Georgetown University, 2004.
Preschool Programs Can Boost School Readiness, prepared by Gormley, Phillips and Gayer, 2008.
The Effects of Pre-K on Cognitive Development, Prepared by Gormleym Gayer, Phillips and Dawson.

Program Website

Early Childhood Four-Year-Old Program Website

Resource List

Education Justice Oklahoma Profile
NIEER 2009 Yearbook Oklahoma Profile
Pre-K Now Oklahoma Profile

 

Return to: Program Evaluations