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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2006
Contact:
Nathan James, Yes on 82
206-313-1673 - cell
California Head Start Association and Leading Early Childhood Education Groups Announce Support for Prop. 82
Officials Mark Week of the Young Child by Highlighting Dramatic Shortage of Quality Preschool Availability in Sacramento
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. – The California Head Start Association, the California Association for the Education of Young Children, and the California Family Child Care Association today announced their support for Prop. 82, the Preschool for All Initiative. Representatives of the groups celebrated the Week of the Young Child, an annual event that brings attention to the needs of young children, with students and teachers at Kinder World preschool.
On the ballot in June, Prop. 82 will provide free, high-quality, voluntary preschool education for every four-year old in California.
“There is no better way to celebrate the Week of the Young Child than by urging Californians to support Preschool for All,” said State Superintendent Jack O’Connell, who is also a supporter of Prop. 82. “Preschool gives children a head start on learning and prepares them for kindergarten and beyond. If we are serious about improving student performance in middle and high school and closing the troubling achievement gap that divides our children, then we must make an investment in quality early learning for all children.”
Studies show that when children go to preschool, they enter school better prepared to learn, more likely to read by the third grade, and more likely to graduate high school. However, despite growing demand, only 20% of California kids have access to quality preschool with a well-qualified teacher. Public preschool programs serve less than half of eligible children and often have lengthy waiting lists.
Officials from leading early education groups in California, including the California Head Start Association, which represents federally-funded preschool providers serving low-income children, toured the preschool and read a story to a classroom of young children. “Our board of directors is fully behind Preschool for All,” said Kay Wernert, a board member of the California Head Start Association. “A quality preschool education is the key to improving California’s schools. This initiative will improve existing Head Start programs and increase access for the communities we serve.”
Prop. 82 was drafted with the help early education experts and the California Association for the Education of Young Children, the largest professional organization for early care and education in California with more than 12,000 members.
“The Week of the Young Child is a celebration that focuses on the importance of the early years and the committed educators who work with young children day after day,” said Eve-Marie Arce, President of CAEYC. “Prop. 82 honors young children and those who are dedicated to working with them by providing funding for teacher training and recruitment. This initiative ensures that today’s preschool teachers can upgrade their skills and encourages the next generation of teachers to choose preschool as their professional career.”
Prop. 82 is also supported by the largest organization representing home-based preschool providers in California. “Preschool for All is a ground-breaking proposal to provide every child with access to quality preschool in all preschool settings,” said Marva Lyons, President of the California Association for Family Child Care. “Our members are small business entrepreneurs that serve thousands of children in California. They are extremely pleased that under Preschool for All, parents will continue to have the option to enroll their children in a quality family care setting.”
Quality preschool remains out of reach for many families in Sacramento County. Studies by the law enforcement group, Fight Crime, Invest in Kids California have highlighted the shortage and high cost of preschool. “Paying the Price for the High Cost of Preschool in California” found that 72% of publicly-funded preschool programs in Sacramento County had waiting lists. In addition, 72% of private preschools statewide had waiting lists. In addition, the study “Public Safety Can’t Wait” found that the average cost of private, part-day preschool in Sacramento County is $3,566 – more than a year of tuition at a California State University -- with the top 15% of programs costing $5,107 per year. (The full reports on preschool costs and waiting lists are available at: http://www.fightcrime.org/ca/)
Recent research on preschool shows advantages not only for children, but also for society as a whole. A 2005 study by the RAND Corporation found that the benefits of a universally available preschool program in California would greatly outweigh the costs. Economists estimated that every dollar invested in quality preschool would generate $2.62 in savings to California’s schools, criminal justice system, and through increased tax revenue to state and local governments. For the Sacramento region, RAND estimated that there would be 640 fewer high school dropouts, 900 fewer children ever retained in a grade, and 4,000 fewer years of special education per year.
Proposition 82 will provide a high-quality, voluntary preschool education for every four-year old in California. The initiative provides teacher training and raises standards for preschool teachers. It will build on the existing network of preschools, allowing parents to choose the preschool program that is right for their family. For more information about Prop. 82, visit: http://www.YesOn82.com.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC) celebrates Week of the Young Child, April 2-8, 2006, to recognize the needs of young children and thank teachers and other adults who work to build better futures for all children. For more information on the Week of the Young Child, visit: http://www.naeyc.org/about/woyc/.