Public elementary schools enrolled approximately 822,000 children in prekindergarten classes throughout the country, according to Prekindergarten in U.S. Public Schools: 2000-2001, a study released recently by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics. Thirty-five percent of all public elementary schools, both regular and those designed for children with disabilities, offered such programs.

Research on the relationship between children's early care and education and school readiness has shown the potential importance of enriching learning experiences for young children. In recent years, renewed attention has focused on the role that public schools might play in providing high-quality programs for prekindergarten children.

Other key findings from the survey include:

-- General education prekindergarten classes were offered by 28 percent of public elementary schools; 15 percent offered special education prekindergarten classes.

-- As of Oct. 1, 2000, 20 percent of the children enrolled in prekindergarten classes at public elementary schools were 3-year-olds, 68 percent were 4-year-olds, and 9 percent were 5-year-olds. The remaining three percent were less than 3 years old.

-- About half (49 percent) of the children were white, 24 percent were Hispanic, 23 percent were black, 3 percent were Asian, and 2 percent were American Indian/Alaska Native.

-- Fifteen percent of public elementary school prekindergarten children were limited English proficient, 61 percent were from low-income families, and 30 percent had Individualized Education Programs. These are groups whose needs federal and state early childhood education programs are sometimes designed to address.

-- The average public elementary school prekindergarten class had 14 children. Sixty-eight percent of the prekindergarten classes followed half-day schedules, and 32 percent followed full-day schedules.

-- Seventy-seven percent of the classes in schools on the Southeast were on full-day schedules, compared with 13 percent in the Central region.

-- Nearly 46,000 teachers taught prekindergarten classes in public elementary schools during the 2000-2001 school year. Eighty-six percent of the teachers had a bachelor's or higher degree. The majority (82 percent) of teachers were paid using the same pay scale that was used to remunerate public elementary school teachers.

-- Fifty-two percent of prekindergarten children attended programs that provided transportation services, and 64 percent attended programs that offered meals at school. Five percent of prekindergartners attended programs with extended day care at school.

The full text of Prekindergarten in U.S. Public Schools: 2000-2001 is available online at http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2003019. A copy of the report can be ordered by calling toll free 1-877-4ED-Pubs (1-877-433-7827) (TTY/TDD 1-877-576-7734); via e-mail at edpubs@inet.ed.gov; or via the Internet at http://www.edpubs.ed.gov/webstore/Content/search.asp.

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