The Impact of Early Childhood Education

Abstract

Several studies have confirmed that children learn the most between ages birth and five years of age, yet very few state offer, much less mandate, that children receive early childhood education.  Only two states truly offer universal preschool and only fourteen states require that all children attend at least half-day kindergarten, leaving the other thirty-six states with no requirements on kindergarten attendance at all.  Although, majority of the children in our nation do attend kindergarten, most do not attend full-day programs and studies have indicated that children who attend full-day kindergarten programs excel academically and exhibit less behavioral disruptiveness over those who attend half day kindergarten. Another obstacle faced in correlation to early childhood education is that many of the children who are enrolled in a program are not enrolled in a high-quality program.

Impact of Early Childhood Education

Children learn the most in the first five years of their lives.  Providing high quality education programs before children turn five yields long term benefits for children academically.  Yet in our country the focus on early childhood education has been almost nonexistent and most of our children are not reaping the long term benefits children can receive.  Why, then, do so many children miss out on the opportunity to attend preschool and why are so few children enrolled in full-day kindergarten programs?

Preschool Enrollment and Income

                Enrollment in preschool varies from state to state and there is a direct correlation between preschool enrollment and the family’s income.  Many states offer funding to assist low income families with preschool cost, as well as the federally funded Head Start programs.  The children whose families bring home a gross income of just over the eligibly requirements to qualify for these funding sources often are less able to pay for a private preschool program.  Therefore, preschool enrollment among families with a higher income is more common.  Our current economic condition has also played a role in funding provided to low income families.  State budget cutbacks have reduces the number of children who are served in these programs.  More than half of the three and four year olds not enrolled in preschool come from low income families.

Preschool Enrollment and Quality

                Only two states offer universal preschool to all children, those are Georgia and Oklahoma.  Although participation is a great concern for preschoolers, children who are enrolled in programs are not enrolled in high-quality programs that focus on all aspects of development and provide the child with a solid foundation to build on for years to come.  Children who begin kindergarten behind academically are more likely to remain behind for the duration of their career as a student. Factors that are included in a high-quality program, focused on developmentally appropriate practice, are social, emotional, and healthy development for each child.  By providing children with this solid foundation to build on we are promoting children who are ready to excel in kindergarten and beyond and are less likely to experience behavioral issues in the classroom.

Full-Day Kindergarten vs. Half-Day Kindergarten

                Currently, only fourteen states require that children attend kindergarten of some sort and of those only nine require that full-day kindergarten be offered.  Of the nine states that require full-day kindergarten be offered only two, Louisiana and West Virginia, mandate that children attend full-day kindergarten.  This leaves thirty-six states with no mandates on kindergarten.  Kindergarten is the foundation for many children’s learning and there are no mandates on majority of the states.  It has been shown that children in full-day kindergarten show greater academic achievement than those enrolled in half-day kindergarten.  Full-day kindergarten is particularly beneficial for children from low income families because, as stated before, over half of these children miss out on the opportunity to attend preschool and much of the kindergarten school year is used to assist those who are behind gain the knowledge that others received in preschool.

Conclusion

                As you can see, the state of our current early childhood education programs is lacking in many areas.  Children miss out on opportunities to attend high-quality preschool program, due to income eligibility requirements and a lack of programs that provide high-quality education programs.  Children who are behind upon starting kindergarten tend to stay behind throughout the course of their education and are more likely to exhibit behavioral issues in the classroom, but the trend toward full-day kindergarten could help utilize that extra time and use it to bring those children up to speed.  Providing high-quality preschool programs and full-day kindergarten for all children will help provide children with a solid foundation for children to grow on and excel.

Rocha, Elena (2005). Education: The State We’re In.  Retrieved November 3, 2010, from http://www.americanprogress.org/kf/pre-k%20and%20kindergarten.pdf