How to Best Get Children Ready for School and Life

How to Best Get Children Ready for School and Life

"Lessons of Highly Effective Programs" quoted from a HighScope Resource Magazine for Educators (winter edition 2010) and written by Dr. Larry Schweinhart

(I recently read this article and wanted to share excerpts from it with whoever may be interested because I feel so strongly that preschool does have a huge impact on a child's life! -Jenni Wilde-)

In 2009, Arne Duncan, the United States Secretary of Education proclaimed that "Early learning is on the cusp today of transformational reform. It is time to transform early learning from a system of uneven quality and access into a system that truly and consistently prepares children for success in school and in life."

Some highly effective early childhood programs have been shown by research studies to contribute to children's development with an intensity that leads to lifetime effects on school success, adult economic productivity, and crime reduction and resultant economic return far greater than the original investment.

The key components of a Highly Effective Program are a validated curriculum, well trained and qualified teachers, parent involvement, and regular assessment of the child's development.

The curriculum should be one in which the children are treated as active learners. The preschool should focus on a variety of activities, including individualized and interactive learning, small group activities, and frequent teacher feedback. Curriculum content should be based around -language, literacy, and communication -mathematics -creative arts - science and technology -social studies -social and emotional development and -approaches to learning.

Early childhood programs should fully engage parents as genuine partners in their children's education through ongoing communication, and involvement in school activities.

The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies(NACCRRA) recommends that child care teachers have at least an associates degree in early childhood education. In 2002, only 33% of preschool teachers were qualified.

In 2009 three studies were done on highly effective early childhood programs. Results showed positive short term effects on intellectual performance; later positive effects on school achievement; placement on grade level and not in special education; high school graduation; reduction in criminal arrests; reduction in teenage pregnancy; improved adult employment rates and earnings; improved college enrollment. All three studies found substantial returns that far exceeded what money was spent on preschool investment.

The evidence presented here suggests that preschools need a validated curriculum, qualified and/or well-supervised teachers, outreach to parents, and regular assessment of program implementation and children's development.

A massive shift in public priorities is critical to the future of child care in the United States, but until then, we have to the best we can for the sake of all our children!

"We have a rare opportunity to better recognize and treat highly effective early childhood programs in schools and community agencies as a genuine investment with enormous returns." (Schweinhart, 2010)