According to the report A Matter of Equity: Preschool in America, released last week by the US Department of Education, less than half (40%) of the approximately four million four-year olds in the U.S. are enrolled in publicly funded preschool programs with even fewer enrolled in the highest-quality programs. Ohio is one of eleven states enrolling fewer than 10 percent of 4-year-olds in publicly funded preschool programs.

Ohio is making progress though working to improve preschool program quality through the 2012 $70 million Early Learning Challenge grant. In the second year of its grant, Ohio increased access to high-quality early learning opportunities with a 19% increase in programs participating in Step Up to Quality (Ohio's quality rating system).