Although this article is about early childhood education in Kansas, many other states are adding early childhood education to their curriculum. Different states and individual school districts can vary greatly in the nature of the programs, but each has some common goals and characteristics.
Many of Kansas’ school districts are adding pre-kindergarten programs for children starting at age three. Although the age of three may seem too early to begin a child’s education, there is a growing interest in early childhood education. A child’s brain grows to about 90% of its capacity by the age of five. They are like a sponge, absorbing everything they see, hear and experience. Children are experts at learning language at this point, and many of the skills they will need later in life are based on those early experiences.
The first formal research in the US on early childhood education was conducted in Minnesota in the 1960s. Two groups of children were randomly divided into an Experimental group, which received two years of early childhood education, and a Control, no. The Experimental group received experiences that help children grow and thrive, such as stable and nurturing relationships with other children and adults, a language-rich environment, experience with routines, and encouragement to explore through movement and their senses. They also learned to take turns, to lead and follow in the game, to seek help when needed, to recognize emotions, and to control their impulses. In addition, they become familiar with numbers, the alphabet, and problem-solving skills.
Upon entering the traditional school, members of the Experimental group were more successful in the early grades, but were found to be performing about the same as their peers by age 10. The researchers were disappointed at first, but when they followed the Experimental group through school and into adulthood, they found much improvement. The experimental group were less likely to repeat grades or need remedial classes, and were more likely to graduate from high school and attend college. They were also more successful in their careers and less likely to experience health problems or be involved with the criminal justice system.
It was found that children in early childhood education do better if parents and caregivers are involved in the process. Many schools engage parents through home visits and also encourage day care centers to let children practice skills learned in early childhood education.
Surprisingly, the Federal Reserve is interested in researching early childhood education as a way to improve the workforce and improve economic development. The economic value of early childhood education programs has been found to far outweigh the cost. Economists who have analyzed the costs and benefits find that there is a $5 to $15 rate of return for every dollar invested, with disadvantaged children seeing the greatest benefit. While children and their families benefit from investments in early education, most of the benefits accrue to communities and society as a whole. Children are also likely to become better parents and better citizens, spreading the benefits forward.
Kansas legislators and educators are increasingly interested in early childhood education as they try to spend education dollars more efficiently. The 2019 Kansas Legislature increased K-12 school funding to allow for inflation, and the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the increase was appropriate. However, Kansas shouldn’t settle for just the right thing.
Kansas has always been known for its excellent schools and we must keep it that way. One way to do this would be to increase early education programs. Federal and private grants are available to develop early learning programs. The Kansas Legislature should also consider providing additional funding to start and maintain those programs. It would be an efficient way to improve educational outcomes at minimal cost, and it would be a wise investment in our future.