{"id":77194,"date":"2024-09-18T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/09\/18\/universal-pre-k-launches-for-4-year-olds-at-80-dod-schools\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T16:34:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T16:34:17","slug":"universal-pre-k-launches-for-4-year-olds-at-80-dod-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2024\/09\/18\/universal-pre-k-launches-for-4-year-olds-at-80-dod-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"Universal pre-K launches for 4-year-olds at 80 DOD schools"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, ALABAMA \u2014 Holding a green stenciled dinosaur, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin smiled widely as 4-year-old students \u201cfed\u201d letters to the flat critter, in an alphabet learning exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Austin visited Maxwell Elementary Middle School last week along with first lady Jill Biden to highlight the launch of universal pre-kindergarten classes available to all 4-year-olds <\/a>at 80 installations with elementary schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe heard loud and clear that families juggling work and raising kids need affordable child care and quality early childhood education,\u201d Austin said, speaking to airmen, their families and school staff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Austin highlighted the pre-kindergarten launch as one of the Defense Department\u2019s efforts to make life easier for troops and their families<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

DOD also announced seven new initiatives, including another effort to increase access to quality child care, with a $33.5 million budget request specifically for the child care workforce, to improve recruitment, retention and the work environments in DOD\u2019s child development program. Like many civilian child care programs, the military has faced shortages of child care workers for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About 4,000 four-year-olds attend pre-K classes at the 80 schools where it\u2019s being offered. Officials anticipate about 6,000 students will attend once the program is rolled out to all 90 elementary schools. Enrollment in the program is optional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remaining 10 elementary schools in the DODEA system will get pre-K over the next several years, pending construction and renovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department of Defense Education Activity, which manages schools on U.S. military bases around the world, launched its universal pre-K program in 2023 with a cohort of 65 4-year-olds at one school \u2014 M.C. Perry Primary School at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\t