Stop thinking K to 12, and start thinking pre-K to 12

States are required to provide education for students in grades 1 to 12, which means that even in tough economic times, they can reduce funding only on a per-child basis. The same is not true for preschool. Only a handful of states are required to provide pre-K; all the others can choose to cap enrollment for low-income children or stop funding these programs altogether. "One of the reasons that it's easy in some states to cut back pre-K investments when times are tough is this idea that it's just a program for some kids, not something for all kids," Michele Palermo, coordinator of early-childhood initiatives at the Rhode Island Department of Education, is quoted as saying in the Pew report. "And we in the trenches are always kind of puzzled. ... You wouldn't just cut out second grade. Why are we just cutting out pre-K? And you wouldn't just provide second grade to some kids but not all kids."