What Are the Ingredients of a Good Preschool Curriculum?

Why It Matters

With billions of dollars flowing into expanding state pre‑K programs, reliable evaluations help districts spend wisely and ensure early education builds a solid foundation for later academic success.

Key Takeaways

• EdReports released first pre‑K curriculum reviews, covering three gateways.
• State preschool enrollment hit 1.8 million in 2025, a record high.
• Reviews praised literacy focus but flagged weak, inconsistent math sequencing.
• Guidelines stress blend of play‑based and direct instruction for 3‑5‑year‑olds.
• Districts gain a centralized resource to compare early‑learning materials.

Pulse Analysis

The launch of EdReports’ pre‑K evaluations marks a watershed moment for early‑education accountability. For years, K‑12 curricula have been subject to rigorous third‑party reviews, but preschool materials lagged behind despite a dramatic rise in enrollment—nearly 1.8 million children enrolled in state‑run programs in 2025. By applying a three‑gateway model—diversity, content, and implementation—EdReports offers districts a transparent, research‑based lens to compare offerings, while Student Achievement Partners’ guidelines provide a complementary framework for curriculum design.

Initial reviews of three widely used programs—The Creative Curriculum, Frog Street Pre‑K, and Every Child Ready—reveal a mixed picture. All three excel in language and literacy development and embed play‑based learning, aligning with early‑childhood best practices. However, math instruction often lacks a systematic progression, and guidance for multilingual learners or children with disabilities is sporadic. The gateway approach scores each domain independently, reflecting feedback that educators need comprehensive data rather than a pass/fail gate, thereby supporting more nuanced purchasing decisions.

For policymakers and district leaders, these tools signal a shift toward data‑driven early‑learning investments. As states integrate pre‑K into broader K‑12 pipelines, the ability to vet curricula for both academic rigor and developmental appropriateness becomes critical. Balancing direct instruction with experiential, play‑based activities can address concerns that early classrooms are becoming de‑facto kindergarten settings. With centralized reviews now available, districts can align spending with evidence‑based practices, ultimately strengthening the foundation for lifelong learning.