NSECD Program State Profile

• Historically, Louisiana has served young children through four state-funded pre-k programs: Starting Points, the 8(g) Student Enhancement Block Grant Program, LA4, and the Nonpublic Schools Early Childhood Development Program (NSECD). These state-funded pre-k programs differ in eligibility requirements, funding levels, and funding sources with a combined total of over $50 million in state money. LA4 enrolls the most four year olds. The quality of these programs also varies substantially, with NSECD having the highest overall quality; the program meets nine of ten standards for quality as defined by the National Institute for Early Education Research.
  http://www.preknow.org/resource/profiles/louisiana.cfm
• An Economic Analysis of Pre-K in Louisiana June 2005
  Understand the important role pre-k can play in the economic recovery of Louisiana, where every $1 invested in pre-k would produce $2.25 in benefits for the state.
  http://www.preknow.org/documents/LAEconAnalysisReport_June2005.pdf
• Policy Brief March 2004: Policy Brief - Child Outcome Standards in Pre-K Programs: What Are Standards; What Is Needed To Make Them Work?
  Creating preschool outcome standards poses many of the same challenges faced by policymakers and educators as they set standards for K-12 and beyond. At the same time, preschool standards present special considerations related to both the nature of early development and learning and the characteristics of early childhood programs. Absent attention to these considerations, educators may fail to extend to young children all of the benefits that standards-based education has to offer. Indeed, applying standards without regard to the unique challenges of early childhood education may have adverse effects on children in the long run. If policymakers and early childhood educators take an approach that reflects today’s best understandings of early childhood development and high-quality early education, everyone stands to gain.
  http://nieer.org/docs/index.php?DocID=95
• Facts and Figures: Cost of providing quality preschool education to America's 3- and 4-year olds
  http://nieer.org/resources/facts/index.php?FastFactID=5
• Facts and Figures: Economic benefits of quality preschool education for America's 3- and 4-year olds
  http://nieer.org/resources/facts/index.php?FastFactID=6
• Hot Topic: Help On The Way For Katrina's Displaced Preschoolers
  The estimated 370,000 school children displaced by Hurricane Katrina have the protection of the law that entitles them to continue their educations but preschoolers have no such assurance. That hasn't stopped communities, states and organizations from developing plans to assist preschoolers and their families in locating slots and the resources children need to attend.
  http://nieer.org/docs/index.php?DocID=128