Headlines proclaiming cutbacks in pre-kindergarten expansions and other education programs are common in these tough times, as are editorials questioning the extent states can afford them. An example of the new cautionary tone appeared in the Topeka-Capital Journal in Kansas earlier this month.

Journalists who are covering the story of strapped state legislatures are reporting on governors like Deval Patrick, who is scaling back early childhood education reforms in Massachusetts. There's no shortage of examples, including Stateline.org's Legislative Year in Review , which comes at a time when some states are considering asking the federal government for loans.

It's important to note that in the midst of all the bad economic news, many state legislatures are continuing to make pre-kindergarten a priority. Pre-K Now released a report last month noting that net state investments in pre-k will increase by more than $309 million nationally, to $5.2 billion in the next fiscal year.

The report is a good resource for journalists as the story of the economic downturn and its impact on education spending continues to unfold on the eve of the presidential election.