Tempe's Preschool Program Transforms Early Education and Family Stability

Tempe’s Preschool Program Transforms Early Education and Family Stability

City-Funded Initiative Boosts Kindergarten Readiness and Elevates Quality of Life for Local Families

A groundbreaking study conducted by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago has confirmed that the City of Tempe’s preschool initiative, Tempe PRE, is not only addressing a critical shortage in early childhood education but also significantly boosting school readiness and improving the quality of life for participating families. Launched in 2017, Tempe PRE has now become a model for early education, offering free, high-quality preschool to families across the city.

The evaluation, funded by a $1.3 million grant from Helios Education Foundation, found that Tempe PRE has been instrumental in preparing children for kindergarten, with students showing improved vocabulary, social-emotional skills, and overall readiness compared to their peers. The program’s success is particularly noteworthy given the national context; as of 2019, nearly half of all 4-year-olds from low-income backgrounds were not enrolled in any preschool program.

Tempe’s commitment to early childhood education began with a stark realization: in 2017, only one-third of Tempe’s 3 and 4-year-olds were enrolled in preschool, leaving more than 1,000 children unserved each year. This data fueled the city’s determination to create Tempe PRE, a full-day, no-cost program housed in local school districts and designed to be accessible to working families.


The program’s success lies in its holistic approach. Tempe PRE not only offers a robust curriculum focused on active learning and social-emotional development but also provides before-and-after-school care, ensuring that working parents can balance their careers with their children’s education. Certified teachers, trained in an evidence-based curriculum, receive salaries and benefits on par with district kindergarten teachers.

Parents and teachers alike have praised the program for its structured curriculum, low teacher turnover, and the positive impact it has had on family life. One parent highlighted the program’s educational focus, saying, “There is play, but they are actively learning things, and that is what we were looking for.”

Beyond educational outcomes, Tempe PRE has also opened doors for parents, with many reporting that the program has enabled them to secure better jobs and housing, ultimately enhancing their family’s quality of life. “We’ve had parents get jobs, better housing. All of those things have really improved the quality of life for those families,” noted one school principal.

Tempe’s City Council, recognizing the program’s success, has committed to permanently funding Tempe PRE, which now serves 200 children across 11 classrooms.