America may be one of the richest countries in the world,
but it ranks #28 out of 38 countries in the percent of 4 year olds enrolled in
pre-primary education programs like Head Start. The United States ranked behind
countries like France, Spain and Mexico according to the
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Head Start began in 1965 as an early childhood education
program under President Johnson’s War on Poverty. Currently, there are 900,000
children enrolled in Head Start of which 35% are African American. The program
cost $7.2 billion, less than a new air craft carrier costing $9 billion.
Does early childhood development matter? You bet it does.
Children who are exposed to more language and more caring interaction with
adults have an advantage over their peers that grow up in a stressful
environment. This inequality leads to the “achievement gap” that educators say
is evident as early as nine months of age and continues to inhibit student
progress through elementary school and beyond.
Mitt Romney posts a 35 page document on his education plan,
but it has no mention of Head Start, early childhood education or Pre-K
programs.
The Ryan Budget outlines
federal spending reductions, but gives no details as to where these cuts will
be made.
The National Education
Association (NEA) reports in a N Y Times article that early childhood programs
would be cut by $590,000,000, eliminating 80,000 slots for kids and cutting
30,000 jobs for teachers, aides, and administrators. Republicans have used Head
Start programs as an example of wasteful spending on unproven programs that
need to be reined in.
President Obama expanded Head Start in 2009 under the
Stimulus Program injection and additional $2.1 billion for Head Start and
opening 61,000 new slots for kids. No additional specifics have been offered,
but the Obama Administration has opposed Republican cuts to educational
programs.
The 2012 Election is a matter of choice on so many issues,
but don’t let early childhood education get missed in foreign policy, women’s
issues and other high visibility targets. Our kids deserve more; our kids
deserve better.
Vote and let your voice be heard.
