Early education narrows the gap between the haves and have-nots
Micah Ali
Compton, Watts and other S Los Angeles communities are filled with families struggling with the growing income disparity that grips the country.
During the last xxx years the so-called "i percenters" of American income earners have had their incomes rocket up. For the eye class and those at the bottom, statistics bear witness tiny gains and even backsliding. Since 1988 and through 2012, the median California income rose an embarrassing seven per centum.
Rather than wallow in the inequity of all this, what can we exercise? As president of the Compton Unified School District, my answer is to empower all kids from the very offset of their young lives. We need universal pre-kindergarten to go kids on par with their peers, rather than accept them prove upwards for their showtime day of school already behind. That'due south why I support the expansion of "transitional kindergarten" at the heart of the proposed Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2022 and strongly encourage Gov. Jerry Brown to fund it.
Inquiry has shown investing in universal preschool pays dividends for years to come up. Near studies calculate long-term returns of up to $xi in economic benefits for every dollar invested in preschool programs. In Los Angeles Canton, the early childhood educational space contributes virtually $one.vii billion to the local economy through chore cosmos alone. Past educating children at an early age, they volition be more likely to stay in schoolhouse, develop career skills and effectively compete in the global marketplace.
Supporters of strong early on pedagogy programs include Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman. "Quality birth-to-five early childhood education for disadvantaged children," Heckman said recently, "can simultaneously reduce inequality and boost productivity in America. A solid body of enquiry shows the cost-effectiveness of early childhood development in helping to foreclose achievement gaps, boost school achievement, promote amend health outcomes, ameliorate our workforce, increment productivity and reduce the need for costly social spending."
When the state asked school districts to introduce at least 1 transitional kindergarten course last yr, Compton Unified School Commune added the new grade to every uncomplicated school for a total of 32 classes districtwide.
Assembly and Senate Democrats are allied in their back up of the Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2014, which would expand existing transitional kindergarten programs to all 4-year-olds. Just Gov. Dark-brown unwisely left out resources for this critical investment in his proposed budget.
Universal preschool is a programme that I fully support and an outcome that I am passionate about not just for Compton, but for all communities in California. The lack of access to affordable preschool programs disproportionately impacts residents in low-income neighborhoods. I believe the central to moving California's recovery forward as ane united economic system – not the tale of two disparate economic recoveries – is to invest in early childhood education. Nosotros need to ensure that all parents and students take access to a quality education. Educational activity is the important bridge we take to cross the growing income gap.
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Micah Ali is president of the Compton Unified School District Lath of Trustees and Associate Director of the Los Angeles County Teaching Foundation.
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Source: https://edsource.org/2014/early-education-narrows-the-gap-between-the-haves-and-have-nots/56527
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