Prairie State Wire

Illinois’ pre-kindergarten education system ranked in the top 20 in a new Wallethub study that analyzed states’ early-education programs, based on criteria such as the share of school districts offering pre-K education and spending per child.

The Prairie State came in 19th overall among the states and the District of Columbia. Illinois earned an overall score of 55.77. In comparison, No. 1 Arkansas received a total score of 76.1, according to the report.

Among the three key dimensions studied, Illinois finished fifth in access, 44th in quality and 17th in resources and economic support, WalletHub reported. Only 11 states offer universal pre-K programs, according to the study.

Illinois’ income requirement for state pre-K eligibility is among the lowest in the nation, WalletHub reported.

Children enrolled in such programs tend to be better prepared in higher grade levels, have higher graduation rates and earn more when they enter the workforce, the National Education Association reports. Less future criminal behavior is another benefit for those who attend early-education programs, according to WalletHub.

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Rankings on Early Education Programs by State 

Overall Rank	State	Total Score	Access	Quality	Resources & Economic Support
1	Arkansas	76.1	4	2	18
2	Nebraska	72.25	7	4	22
3	Maryland	71.89	14	3	7
4	New Jersey	70.67	12	9	1
5	District of Columbia	67.78	1	22	29
6	South Carolina	65.4	16	4	33
7	Rhode Island	63.34	27	10	4
8	Oregon	62.7	13	21	2
9	Connecticut	62.19	23	6	27
10	Vermont	61.75	2	45	21
11	West Virginia	61.33	9	12	39
12	Michigan	61.27	20	10	16
13	New Mexico	60.93	6	39	6
14	Oklahoma	56.81	8	39	12
15	Nevada	56.03	32	17	5
16	Illinois	55.77	5	44	17
17	Pennsylvania	54.14	19	38	8
18	Alabama	54.02	15	30	11
19	Wisconsin	53.86	10	25	34
20	Louisiana	53.47	21	16	38
21	Kentucky	52.85	18	18	44
22	Tennessee	52.74	22	13	50
23	South Dakota	52.19	37	1	41
24	Iowa	52.18	11	29	35
25	Maine	51.29	17	39	14
26	Washington	51.14	24	27	13
27	Delaware	50.91	25	19	30
28	Texas	50.48	43	8	45
29	Hawaii	50.35	31	43	3
30	Kansas	49.69	3	50	40
31	Virginia	49.46	49	7	25
32	Utah	48.28	35	28	9
33	California	46.85	44	23	10
34	Georgia	46.66	46	14	28
35	Ohio	45.77	29	20	47
36	Mississippi	44.04	33	30	31
37	Arizona	43.65	28	26	49
38	New York	43.52	26	45	24
39	North Carolina	42.99	48	14	36
40	Florida	42.71	40	30	32
41	Colorado	42.52	45	24	23
42	Wyoming	39.37	34	30	41
43	Alaska	37.33	30	51	15
44	Montana	37.15	39	30	48
45	Idaho	37	42	30	46
46	North Dakota	36.61	36	48	26
47	New Hampshire	35.66	41	30	51
48	Missouri	34.77	38	48	37
49	Massachusetts	34.25	47	47	20
50	Minnesota	33.84	50	42	19
51	Indiana	22.27	51	30	41

Source: WalletHub.com