By KRWG News
New Mexico – A university study of New Mexico's pre-kindergarten program says the initiative has helped children improve their math, vocabulary and early literacy skills.
The National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University conducted the study and sampled more than 1,300 children in the 2008-2009 school year.
New Mexico started the pre-kindergarten program in 2005. However, it serves fewer than one in five of the state's 4-year-olds. New Mexico is spending about $15 million on pre-kindergarten this year.
The study said New Mexico's program is meeting an objective of preparing children for later success in school.
The state and the Pew Charitable Trusts financed the study.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.