 Early Education
Prior to Kindergarten children's exposure to learning and educational experiences varies greatly. The result is a large disparity in school readiness; some children enter the K12 system ready to learn and others lack basic skills. State lawmakers have turned to Prekindergarten programs, Birth to Five screening and development programs, and the alignment of early learning and K12, to address the school readiness gap and curtail the achievement gap that tends to widen post-kindergarten. A growing body of research suggests that high-quality Prekindergarten can result in both positive academic and social-emotional growth for children as well as long-term economic benefits for the state. The mounting evidence in support of PreK and the push to address the achievement gap has been followed by a dramatic expansion in state Prekindergarten programs. States are implementing programs with various levels of reach (targeted to universal), service delivery (private providers and schools), and financing strategies. In addition, many states are addressing learning "upstream", from birth to age five, in an effort to mitigate the effects of birth defects, and proactively address developmental and school readiness issues. Birth to five programs encompass a spectrum of services from newborn and developmental screenings to infant, toddler and family mental health support. Finally, there is a growing realization that birth to five and K-12 efforts must be aligned and coordinated in order to maximize state investments in children's early years and facilitate academic success. |