The Oakland Press, December
19, 2005
The merits of early childhood education have once again been illustrated
by a national study of learning successes of preschoolers in language and
math skills.
Some Oakland County advocates of early childhood
education hope the study, which was conducted by the National Institute
for Early Education Research at Rutgers University, will stimulate efforts
to expand access to state-funded programs.
Highlights of the study include the fact that 4-year-olds enrolled in the
Michigan School Readiness Program demonstrated gains in vocabulary 24
percent higher than children outside the program. The same students also
made gains 64 percent higher in math skills and 117 percent higher in
print awareness.
"I just really see this as further proof that to not invest further in
early education - to deny any child access to a program like this - is to
do those kids a great disservice," said state Rep. Andy Meisner,
D-Ferndale.
Meisner and other legislators have introduced measures calling for an
expansion of the state's School Readiness Program, but in the midst of a
struggling state economy, the bills have yet to be considered.
But Meisner argues that leaving students behind costs the state 17 times
as much in primary and secondary education intervention programs.
"To me, the question is how can we afford not to do this. It's something
we've got to do because it's a matter of good policy."
Joan Lessen-Firestone, early childhood education director for Oakland
Schools, agrees.
"These are long-lasting, academic differences that show up in testing for
years after kids leave the program," she said.
"We can pay now for programs for children while they're young, or we can
pay later for intervention programs that are a lot more expensive."
All but two of Oakland County's 28 school districts maintain Michigan
School Readiness Programs, which admit students whose families struggle
with social challenges such as low income, language barriers and single
parenthood.
Margie Ried, supervisor of the Funshine Preschool Program in the Clarkston
school district, said these students are able to make substantial gains in
their social and academic development because the state-run program
requires teachers and paraprofessional educators to be highly trained in
early childhood education.
"Kindergarten has changed so much from when we grew up. The curriculum has
been forced down, so kids really need to be better prepared," she said.
Noting that about 93 percent of kids entering the Clarkston kindergarten
program have some sort of preschool learning experience, Ried argued it's
all the more critical that at-risk students have access to statefunded
program to keep up.
In 2004, the Michigan School Readiness Program enrolled 24,700 children,
or about 19 percent of 4-year-olds in the state. |
