Governor Ivey Celebrates Alabama First Class Pre-K’s 20 Years as a National Leader in Quality -

April 23, 2026 - 03:37

Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education are celebrating a significant milestone: twenty consecutive years of national leadership for the state's First Class Pre-K program. The achievement was confirmed with the release of the latest State of Preschool Yearbook by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER).

The report highlights that Alabama's program has met all ten of NIEER's rigorous quality benchmarks for the eighteenth year, a record unmatched by any other state. This consistent excellence underscores a long-term commitment to providing a strong educational foundation for the state's youngest learners.

"For twenty years, Alabama has set the national standard for high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten," said Governor Ivey. "This recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our educators, administrators, and families who believe in the critical importance of early learning. Investing in our children at this pivotal stage yields lifelong benefits for their success and for our state's future."

The Alabama First Class Pre-K program, administered by ADECE, is a voluntary initiative that serves thousands of four-year-olds across the state. Its model emphasizes well-trained teachers, age-appropriate curricula, and supportive classroom environments. State officials credit this comprehensive approach for its sustained top-tier rankings and its proven positive impact on children's school readiness and long-term academic achievement.