Invest in Early Childhood Education

 
In the spring of 2006, I was asked by the Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District to assist them with creating data to understand the social, emotional and physical infrastructure for the development of young children in the two county area. Jennifer Granholm’s Great Start Initiative had lead to the establishment of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC). (See links below). These initiatives have created an infrastructure and policy standards that are solidly grounded in rigorous academic research.

Research over the past ten years on brain research and learning have supplemented decades of work by social scientists that clearly show that intelligence is a dynamic process, instead of a fixed predetermined level. The importance of learning at the earliest stages of a child’s life is fundamental for children to be prepared when they reach kindergarten. Much of the achievement gap that occurs in school districts with high poverty rates can be alleviated with access to high quality early childhood education and other stimulating learning opportunities. We know this. Affluent parents know this and act on it.

The Grand Rapids Public Schools knows this and has provided opportunities for four year olds funded by the Michigan School Readiness Program (MSRP). There are two fee based programs in the GRPS (North Park Montessori and Grand Rapids Public Montessori) that provide this service for three year olds. It will be a challenge to expand this opportunity to more children in the city. I believe that creating further community collaborations to achieve a major investment in early childhood education will dramatically improve the overall achievement of the district.