The COVID-19 pandemic set back state preschool enrollment and funding across the United States more than any other education sector, according to the 2020 State of Preschool Yearbook by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education. The annual survey found that five million 3-and-four year olds lack access to preschool and while growth in state-funded preschool was slowing before the pandemic, when kids were sent home to learn virtually there were even more serious setbacks. “Lawmakers need to act now to address learning loss and stress on young children and families and to get pre-K back on track,” said W. Steven Barnett, NIEER’s founder and senior co-director. To read the full story.