Research shows an ounce of preschool equals a pound of remedial education

Quality preschool programs for children from groups at highest risk for academic failure are a key to the continued improvement of student achievement and indeed, the economy of Merced County. Recent development of preschool programs by our school districts and the Merced County Office of Education, plus results from studies just released by the RAND Corporation, support this conclusion.

Within the past 5 years, school districts including Merced City, Weaver, Delhi, Los Banos, Atwater, Winton, Livingston and Dos Palos have increased preschool quality, availability or both. Program improvement in these districts has been significantly supported by the Merced County Children and Families Commission (First Five) as well as the Packard Foundation.

In 2005, MCOE assumed the responsibility for the Head Start preschool program, updating services for more than 1,000 children throughout the county. As a result of both school district and MCOE work, teachers, parents and others are seeing the differences in children's success in kindergarten and the primary grades.

However, the RAND research just released this month indicates that a readiness gap exists for many children even before their first day of kindergarten. The good news is that the research also found that effective preschool programs boost children's achievement in school and later in life. Children who have attended high-quality preschool programs perform better on achievement tests in reading and math and have a greater likelihood of graduating from college and of being employed.

Business and education leaders in Merced County understand the potential of effective preschool. They have come together behind the leadership of Ed Rocha, President and Chief Operating Officer of County Bank and UC Merced Chancellor Steve Kang to form the Business and Education Alliance for Merced County. The group will explore the value of preschool and provide guidance for improvement of education from preschool to university for all children and youth in Merced County.

Our own successful experience and state and national research results show that we need to intervene early to increase student achievement. The vast majority of children's cognitive development occurs before they enter kindergarten. Effective preschool offers an opportunity to help build a foundation for future success. Ensuring youngsters the chance to start their educational paths at an early age is a promising way to address the readiness gap before it becomes the achievement gap.

Ultimately, preschool is an investment that pays significant social and economic dividends in both the short and long run. When children arrive at school prepared to do their best, the K-12 education system is better able to serve all children. Not only do children do better, school districts save substantial dollars over the course of a child's K-12 career because children who have attended effective preschools are less likely to require special education or to be retained.

The RAND research shows that the benefits of preschool continue beyond 12th grade as preschool participants are more likely to earn a higher income and less likely to need public assistance or become involved in crime. Those outcomes translate into tangible savings for Merced County and California in increased tax revenue and decreased spending on criminal justice and public assistance. And an earlier RAND study found that California would gain at least two dollars and possibly more than four dollars for every dollar invested in preschool for all 4 year olds.

Unfortunately, not enough children have access to effective preschool. The RAND report found that almost half of eligible 4-year-olds in California are not being served by federal and state-funded child development programs and in Merced County the figure is closer to 55 percent not served.

It's not enough to just provide preschool to more children. We must also offer high-quality preschool programs if we want to see the same positive outcomes that other states like New York, Illinois and New Jersey have reported. Several Merced County districts are investing in more teacher education, curriculum enhancements and targeted classroom improvements which are significant ways to boost preschool program quality.

Merced County's 20 school districts, MCOE and its higher education partners are working along with the business community to improve educational results and ultimately our economy and quality of life. Parents and everyone else concerned about the future of our state and Valley should look for opportunities to help. As we work together to raise students' achievement levels and prepare today's children to be tomorrow's work force, we'll be focusing on the full educational spectrum -- starting with preschool.