Don’t cut early childhood education funding

To the editor:

It has recently been brought to my attention that the House Finance Committee wants to cut funding in early childhood education.

We need parents, educators and concerned members of society to speak up and let them know this is a giant step backward. Please take time before this Wednesday to contact a House Finance Committee member and let them know you are against this funding cut.

The journal Developmental Psychology has published research that confirms that Oklahoma’s pre-kindergarten program is successfully helping kids prepare for school.

Oklahoma is one of the few states to offer preschool to every 4-year-old. Learning gains were made by children of different racial and socio-economical backgrounds.

Researchers made a point of noting that the preschool program was staffed by well-educated, well-trained teachers who earn public school salaries.

Children that do not receive a high-quality early childhood education are:

• 25 percent more likely to drop out of school

• 40 percent more likely to become a teen parent

• 50 percent more likely to be placed in special education

• 60 percent more likely to never attend college

• 70 percent more likely to be arrested for a violent crime

Those percentages are both startling and heartbreaking to me as an educator and a member of society.

It should come as no surprise to you that I am advocating for money to be spent on early childhood education instead of rehabilitation later in life. It seems counterproductive to cut funding for early childhood education knowing it has a direct effect on dropout rates.

I recently attended an early childhood professional development workshop where I learned that there are 2,000 days from birth to kindergarten.

That is not a lot of time to get a child prepared for the wide range of skills that they need to able to perform upon entering kindergarten. Especially when you consider the amount of time a baby sleeps those early stages of life. The stakes are high and the time passes quickly.

All children should be given every opportunity to be provided a quality early childhood education by a highly qualified certified teacher in this great state of Alaska.

Additionally, parents should be assured that this option is available for their child. Investing money into early childhood education programs is the best way and statistics show the most cost effective way ensure the healthy development of children.

Kellie Merrill

Wasilla