This report explores the extent to which we underinvest in children’s education and care across age groups, geographies, and funding sources. Overall, the Center for Early Learning Funding Equity (CELFE) found that in 2023, for every public dollar spent on the education and care of a school-aged child, only 21 cents were spent on a preschooler, while just 11 cents were spent on an infant or toddler — the same national averages as the previous year.

In the latest edition of The Shortchanged Project, CELFE mapped and analyzed ECE expenditures across all 50 states in FY23. By reviewing state expenditure data line by line, CELFE identified nearly $7.5 billion in additional state investments not captured in national reporting. The report compares public per capita spending across age groups — birth to 3, 3 to kindergarten-entry, and school-aged children — and includes updated state rankings and year-over-year changes in states’ relative investments in early learning.

To learn more, read the full report.