A recent study from nonprofit research group the RAND
Corporation details the benefits of a proposed universal preschool
program on the Central Coast
– an idea local educators believe would significantly benefit
the area’s children.
Hollister – A recent study from nonprofit research group the RAND Corporation details the benefits of a proposed universal preschool program on the Central Coast – an idea local educators believe would significantly benefit the area’s children.
The RAND Corporation – a national group which conducts studies on a variety of topics – issued a study Thursday which predicts that a universal preschool program in the Central Coast region could result in a 28 percent reduction in high school dropouts and a 15 percent reduction in juvenile court filings. For the purposes of the RAND study, the Central Coast includes San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The study also states that such a program could lead to up to 7 percent fewer children having to enroll in special education, and 8 percent fewer substantiated claims of child abuse or neglect.
“Preschool enables children to be successful later in school,” said Dr. Lynn Karoly, author of the report. “Kids who feel able to succeed in their education don’t lapse into negative, anti-social behavior later in life.”
The RAND study is structured around the idea of an ideal preschool classroom: Publicly funded, with a student/teacher ratio of no more than 10-to-1. The head teacher would have both a bachelor’s degree and an early childhood education credential, and an assistant teacher would be required to have at least an associate’s degree.
“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” said Tim Foley, Superintendent of the Hollister School District. “In the past, so many of these programs have been run by very nice ladies, but were not based in the language acquisition science and childhood development science that we have today.”
According to the RAND study, the Central Coast will have about 27,000 preschool -aged children in the next decade. Currently, 65 percent of preschool-aged children on the Central Coast attend preschool. While Foley suspects a similar percentage of San Benito County children are attending preschool, he would like to see more kids able to enroll.
“That’s still 35 percent of incoming kindergarten students who are up to two years behind their classmates,” he said. “Kids’ minds are so active at that age, it’s important to start stimulating them as early as possible.”
In June 2006, Californians will be asked to vote on a measure that would introduce a universal preschool program for those parents who are interested, and would be funded by an additional tax imposed upon high income residents.
“Kindergarten teachers are looking for the social and emotional interactions between children that show that they’re ready to learn, and kids who go through preschool have that,” said Joyce Swett, School Readiness Coordinator for First 5 San Benito – an organization devoted to the promotion of early childhood education.
While experts may disagree about how best to fund or carry out such a program, there is almost no argument that universal preschool could shape the way California school children learn in the future.
“I really hope we can find a way to fund this expensive investment,” Foley said. “It could make a vital and tremendous difference in the society and culture of California.”
