Education Can't Wait Until Age 5

Pre-K matters. This simple but profoundly important statement is the title of an infographic on the website of The Urban Child Institute, a Memphis organization that has recently released its 2012 Data Book.

The Urban Child Institute has produced the data book annually since 2006 to inform the community about the state of children in Shelby County and more specifically about the importance of early education and brain development. Citing the fact that a child's brain reaches 80 percent of its adult weight by age 3, yet only 3 percent of our education dollars go to preschool education, the organization lays out perhaps the most critical flaw in our education system. We couldn't have it more backward.

The chapter on education in the 2012 Data Book notes that increased language skills, literacy skills and school readiness are important outcomes of early education. It also aptly points out that early education begins at home, from birth. Reading aloud to a child is critical in the development of these skills. In Shelby County and especially in Memphis, studies show that children of poverty are less likely to be read to as often at home and also less likely to receive prekindergarten education at a quality center.

Pre-K is an investment with high returns. We have known for a while that early education, specifically pre-K, pays off in a student's success in school. Children who have experienced quality pre-K education are less likely to need special education or repeat a grade, and are more likely to graduate from high school and go to college.

The Urban Child Institute also cites research that indicates considerable long-term benefits from pre-K education. Adults who have participated in pre-K education earn more, are more likely to own a home and have a savings account, and are less likely to use welfare or be involved in criminal behavior.

Because of this data — and the fact that fewer than 50 percent of the students entering kindergarten in Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools meet a kindergarten readiness benchmark — a heightened investment in pre-K education is a key recommendation of the Transition Planning Commission, the group charged with creating a plan for the merger of the Memphis and Shelby County school districts.

The commission recognizes that quality pre-K education can be provided through several avenues, including district-run classes, the federal government's Head Start program and private care centers, as well as parents or guardians in the home.

Kindergarten readiness scores indicate that children who attend pre-K classes run by MCS and SCS consistently outperform their peers. However, children who participate in any formal pre-K program are better prepared for kindergarten than those who do not participate in any program.

Because of limited funding, the two school districts now provide pre-K education only to students with high risk factors such as poverty, teenaged mothers, single parents, parents with less than a high school education and those with language barriers.

Because "all children entering school ready to learn" is a priority established in the transition plan and assessments show the most positive results from pre-K classes operated by the school districts, the Transition Planning Commission recommends that the merged district lead the way, adding 2,500 spaces to its pre-K program for 4-year-olds over the next five years. This will allow all 4-year-old children not participating in formal pre-K the opportunity to do so. The cost is $15 million phased in at $3 million per year for the next five years. We believe that is an investment with a high rate of return and one worth making for our children.

The commission also realizes that schools alone cannot fill the gap of early education for Shelby County's children, so we also recommend that the merged school district partner with Head Start and private care centers as well as parents to ensure quality education in the early years. Working together, community partners like The Urban Child Institute, Books from Birth, public libraries, private care providers and other government organizations can form a mosaic of opportunities for our children that will enrich their lives for years to come.

We find ourselves in a time of great opportunity to re-evalute [sic] and do the right thing for all children in Shelby County. The figures reported by The Urban Child Institute allow us to think clearly and adopt research-based strategies that address the most compelling issues. This is how we will get results for our greatest assets — our children.

It is clear from the data that education can't wait until children are 5 years old. We must start from the moment our children are born, and together we can build a community of educated adults. What could possibly be more important?

Barbara Prescott is chairwoman of the Transition Planning Commission. To read The Urban Child Institute's 2012 Data Book, visit tuci.org/key-initiatives/data-book.

This article was originally published by The Commercial Appeal: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/aug/12/guest-column-education-cant-wait-until-age-5/