Universal Prekindergarten Act
Need preschool? Think all children in the US should have access to full-day/full-year high-quality preschool?
In 2002 Rep. Dennis Kucinich introduced a bill known as the "Universal Prekindergarten Act" (currently H.R. 555). In the past 10 years it?s been re-proposed 6 times, and each time it's been referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce where it meets its death.
Here are 6 solid reasons to make public-funded, full-day, calendar-year, high-quality preschool available for all 3-5 year old children (not to mention birth-3):
1. BIRTH-5 IS THE MOST CRUCIAL DEVELOPMENT STAGE:
85% of our brain development occurs in the first 5 years of a person's life. (i.e. We learn how to talk, walk, process, throw, etc.) Basic yet key habits are formed during these years, which require a great deal of time, effort, guidance and love to develop positively.
2. PRESCHOOL HELPS CHILDREN:
High-quality preschools and programs such as Head Start have shown through decades and generations their noteworthy yet immeasurable benefits to a person's development (cognition, speech, social/emotional awareness, health, adaptability, inclination to learn, motor skills).
3. THERE ARE NOT NEARLY ENOUGH PRESCHOOLS:
There is a widespread shortage of high-quality preschools in the U.S. (i.e. There were an estimated 7000 kids under 5 years old in Roanoke, VA [2011], yet only approximately 1600 preschool/Head Start spots, and 2000 private childcare spots).
4. PRIVATE CHILDCARE IS TOO COSTLY FOR THE AVERAGE FAMILY:
Millions of parents above the U.S. poverty level do not qualify for preschool programs, or even for childcare assistance funds from Dept. of Social Services, yet cannot afford the cost of private childcare. (For a single parent w/1 child the poverty level is $15,130=$7.28/hour; you can't make more than $10.90 to get childcare assistance; average childcare costs can be $500-800/month, which = 50% OF YOUR MONTHLY INCOME!)
5. OUR ECONOMY CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT IT:
Employers need employees to work. If parents can't afford private childcare, do not have free preschool, or family who can watch their child(ren), they aren't able to work. Creating more preschools will create more jobs and allow parents to work (same applies for parent-students; degrees increase an employee's skills).
6. PRESCHOOL GREATLY HELPS ECONOMY & COMMUNITY IN LONG-TERM:
For every $1 invested in early childhood education the capital return is estimated at $7-$16! The long-term benefits of high-quality preschool greatly outweigh the financial costs (increased adaptability of future adults, reduced crime, need for welfare benefits, & expenditures for special education, etc.)
I hope that as our elected officials you care about our/your children. Their future should not be sacrificed due to our debt. I urge you to not only be pro-education in political rhetoric, but in action and legislation. Support H.R. 555, or another bill that will make preschool available for all families who need and want their children to have that opportunity. Education starts at birth, not at 5.
Here are 6 solid reasons to make public-funded, full-day, calendar-year, high-quality preschool available for all 3-5 year old children (not to mention birth-3):
1. BIRTH-5 IS THE MOST CRUCIAL DEVELOPMENT STAGE:
85% of our brain development occurs in the first 5 years of a person's life. (i.e. We learn how to talk, walk, process, throw, etc.) Basic yet key habits are formed during these years, which require a great deal of time, effort, guidance and love to develop positively.
2. PRESCHOOL HELPS CHILDREN:
High-quality preschools and programs such as Head Start have shown through decades and generations their noteworthy yet immeasurable benefits to a person's development (cognition, speech, social/emotional awareness, health, adaptability, inclination to learn, motor skills).
3. THERE ARE NOT NEARLY ENOUGH PRESCHOOLS:
There is a widespread shortage of high-quality preschools in the U.S. (i.e. There were an estimated 7000 kids under 5 years old in Roanoke, VA [2011], yet only approximately 1600 preschool/Head Start spots, and 2000 private childcare spots).
4. PRIVATE CHILDCARE IS TOO COSTLY FOR THE AVERAGE FAMILY:
Millions of parents above the U.S. poverty level do not qualify for preschool programs, or even for childcare assistance funds from Dept. of Social Services, yet cannot afford the cost of private childcare. (For a single parent w/1 child the poverty level is $15,130=$7.28/hour; you can't make more than $10.90 to get childcare assistance; average childcare costs can be $500-800/month, which = 50% OF YOUR MONTHLY INCOME!)
5. OUR ECONOMY CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT IT:
Employers need employees to work. If parents can't afford private childcare, do not have free preschool, or family who can watch their child(ren), they aren't able to work. Creating more preschools will create more jobs and allow parents to work (same applies for parent-students; degrees increase an employee's skills).
6. PRESCHOOL GREATLY HELPS ECONOMY & COMMUNITY IN LONG-TERM:
For every $1 invested in early childhood education the capital return is estimated at $7-$16! The long-term benefits of high-quality preschool greatly outweigh the financial costs (increased adaptability of future adults, reduced crime, need for welfare benefits, & expenditures for special education, etc.)
I hope that as our elected officials you care about our/your children. Their future should not be sacrificed due to our debt. I urge you to not only be pro-education in political rhetoric, but in action and legislation. Support H.R. 555, or another bill that will make preschool available for all families who need and want their children to have that opportunity. Education starts at birth, not at 5.
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