Maria Zendejas doesn't need to read studies that prove early childhood education programs launch children on the road to success. The Mecca State Preschool teacher has seen the benefits firsthand.
"My three kids attended Head Start, and now they have college degrees," says the proud member of the Coachella Valley Teachers Association. "Head Start also made a difference in my own life. My kids did so well that I went back to school and became a preschool teacher. I tell parents that nothing is impossible for them - or their children - if they put effort into it. It makes me happy when I hear that former students of mine are going to college."
For those who don't know the benefits firsthand, the following studies show that children who attend quality preschool are more successful in school - and in life - than those who have not.
- University of North Carolina researchers with "The Children of the Cost, Quality and Outcomes Study" tracked the educational progress of young children for four years. They found those who had attended high-quality preschool classes had better language and math skills than children from low-quality preschools. Children who have traditionally been at risk of not doing well in school (those whose mothers have little education) are affected more by the quality of child care experiences than other children, the study noted. "If America wants all its children to be ready for school, it must improve the quality of child care experiences in this country."
- A new RAND report based on an analysis of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests given between 1990 and 1996 found that students with top scores shared common characteristics, including higher participation in public prekindergarten.
- North Carolina University's "Abecedarian Study" followed 57 infants from low-income families who received early intervention until age 5 in a child care setting with high educational quality. The study found long-lasting benefits including higher cognitive test scores from toddler years to age 21, and higher academic achievement in both reading and math from primary grades to adulthood. They completed more years of education and were more likely to attend a four-year college. On average, they waited longer to have children of their own.
- The Berruta-Clements study in 1984 and the Schweinhart study in 1993 found that every dollar invested in preschool programs saves $7 in expenditures for social and rehabilitative services later on, and that crime, teenage pregnancy, welfare dependence and other problems are prevented. In addition, those who attended quality preschools pay more taxes because they have higher incomes and tend to be homeowners rather than renters.
"One of the most important long-term effects of early intervention is that it lowers the population of students in special ed," says Helen Fau, a member of CTA's Early Childhood Education Committee and the past president of the California Kindergarten Association. "Too many children who haven't had good educational experiences before starting school get lost in special ed classes. Early intervention also prevents emotional disturbances caused by children being left alone or left in inappropriate settings."
Early intervention, especially with children living in poverty conditions, may also avert medical problems, adds Fau, a member of the Ocean View Educators Association. "If we have trained personnel working with children, they will pick up medical problems quickly. And children won't suffer from improper nutrition, which affects brain development."
Confidence is also increased. "Children know right away when they are behind the rest of the kids," says Fau. "Early intervention means a child has less of a chance to develop an 'I can't do it' attitude and lose self-esteem. And even if children do have significant problems, early intervention programs can help them develop coping skills to deal with them."
