MONTGOMERY, AL — Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program has once again been recognized for its high quality by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), according to the 2024 State of Preschool Yearbook released Wednesday. For the 19th consecutive year, Alabama stands alone as the only state in the nation to meet all 10 of NIEER’s quality benchmarks annually.
Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE) jointly announced the achievement, highlighting the state’s longstanding investment in early childhood education.
The NIEER report evaluates preschool programs across the United States based on enrollment, funding, and adherence to 10 research-based quality standards. Alabama is one of only five states to meet all quality benchmarks this year, which include indicators such as teacher qualifications, class size, and learning standards.
Acting ADECE Secretary Jan Hume emphasized the importance of maintaining quality standards alongside expanding access. “We have built our system on research-based quality benchmarks and are seeing positive outcomes for children who have participated in First Class Pre-K,” said Hume. “Alabama’s commitment to quality is a cornerstone of our state program.”
The First Class Pre-K program is designed to provide 4-year-olds with access to high-quality prekindergarten education in their local communities. Research on the program’s long-term outcomes has shown that participants are more likely to perform well academically throughout their schooling.
Registration for the 2025–2026 school year is currently open. More information and registration options are available at children.alabama.gov.
