Ensuring voluntary public Pre-K options are available in every school district provides greater access to high quality early childhood education for Maine families. Although some families will continue to choose to enroll their children in private Pre-K settings or choose to keep them home until Kindergarten, voluntary public Pre-K provides greater access while honoring family choice.

• Public Pre-K access has increased considerably since 2008-2009, when only 24% of districts offered a public Pre-K option.
• State law requires all school districts to offer a voluntary public Pre-K option.
• Maine public Pre-K is high quality: Maine met 9 of 10 quality standards in recent years.