RALEIGH, N.C. — A new study suggests North Carolina has a lot of room for improvement in its preschool programs.

The study comes from the

National Institute for Early Education Research.

It is important to put the numbers in perspective because they do not reflect all preschool programs in North Carolina, and they do not take into account growth in recent years.

The data used is 3 years old. Nevertheless, the numbers show our state still has plenty of work to do when it comes to preparing preschoolers.

Gov. Mike Easley started North Carolina's

More at Four

in 2001, and the study reflects the infancy of the program.

The state ranks 50th in state-funded preschool access for 3-year-olds because More at Four does not cater to that age. North Carolina ranks 36th in access for 4-year-olds.

In compiling the rankings, the National Institute for Early Education Research did not factor the state's funding for Head Start programs. In terms of funding, North Carolina fared much better. The state ranks fourth in per-pupil public spending.