The National Institute for Early Childhood Education Research says Missouri lags behind the national average in the resources it devotes to pre-kindergarten education.  The group says it advocates quality pre-kindergarten education. 

The Institute says Missouri reaches less than five-thousand children with the 12.6-million dollars it commits to pre-kindergarten education.  It ranks Missouri 31st in total spending on pre-kindergarten and 32nd in providing access to four-year olds, but says Missouri is 13th in providing access to three-year old children.