This commentary was written by Kentucky first lady Jane Beshear and former first ladies Glenna Fletcher, Phyllis George, Libby Jones and Martha Wilkinson
We have joined forces because we all value children and understand the importance of investing in their lives.
During this holiday season, one of the best gifts we can give our children is a strong foundation that will prepare them to be the leaders of tomorrow. We know how crucial it is that each of our children and every child in Kentucky receive the education they need to become successful adults.
That's why we are serving as honorary co-chairs of a statewide campaign, Seniors4Kids, because as grandparents, parents, sisters, and aunts we care about Kentucky's future.
We want policy-makers to understand the importance of investing in Kentucky's children and to make high-quality pre-kindergarten available to every three- and four-year-old. We want to guarantee that Kentucky realizes that investing in its children through this early learning opportunity is pro-economy and pro-productivity.
Recent research indicates that children who attend pre-K strengthen their social and cognitive skills and go on to become successful adults. According to the latest annual report from the National Institute for Early Education, spending per child enrolled in pre-K in Kentucky is still below the national average.
The percentage of three- and four-year-old children enrolled in pre-K in Kentucky is also below the national average. Only about 41 percent of three- and four-year-olds attend pre-K programs in the state. Among all the states, Kentucky ranks 31st for number of children enrolled.
We can change the world by ensuring that we adequately prepare and educate our young children for their school years. Kentuckians of both political parties are focused on increasing pre-K quality and accessibility. The Kentucky Preschool Program was created as one part of the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990 (HB 940) to provide a high-quality pre-K program to the state's neediest children.
Financial difficulties prevented the Kentucky Preschool Program from growing for over a decade, but since 2006 there has been an increase of $23.5 million in funding.
On October 29, 2007, as part of the initiative of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, the Committee's Strong Start Kentucky program convened nearly 50 state leaders to develop recommendations to improve quality and access. The recommendations stressed making voluntary, quality pre-K available for every three- and four-year-old.
Adults 50 and older will be instrumental in supporting efforts to increase the quality of and access to pre-K programs in Kentucky. Baby boomers are starting to reach the age typically associated with retirement. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of adults 50 and older in Kentucky is going to increase substantially while the number of children ages 3 and 4 will change very little. These older adults will make great advocates for our children.
Developing high-quality pre-kindergarten is the most cost-effective way to decrease the number of unskilled adults in the work force. A good early-childhood education helps prepare a child for achievement by improving school readiness in vocabulary, reading and math skills.
One of our Seniors4Kids explained it best when she described her recent visit to a pre-kindergarten classroom. She saw an eager boy who was learning and thriving, a youngster who, his teacher explained, had special learning needs and wasn't speaking until he started pre-K. The teacher said that after just a short amount of time, he had almost caught up with his age group.
It is because of successes like this that we're pleased to join Seniors4Kids in working to improve education in Kentucky, education that will benefit people of all generations.
During this holiday season, we all have time to reflect on what is important to us. As those who have had the privilege of serving Kentucky, we believe the most critical gift we can give our state's children is a sound beginning.
We encourage Kentuckians everywhere to join us and make a New Year's resolution to support pre-K for all of Kentucky's children.
