Delaware Governor Jack Markell issued a call today for increased investment in early childhood education. He cited studies showing that children receiving quality early care are more likely to be successful in school, become better citizens and earn more. You can read his full opinion piece at Politico.
Gov. Markell’s call for increased investment is not just another “throw money at the problem” solution. It’s clear that money alone will not solve the problems with our education system. But when money is tied to increased performance standards and providing better conditions for children to thrive, change can happen. Markell calls for just that focusing on three areas of importance:
“Learning environment: Like many states, Delaware assigns ratings to early childhood programs. An effective system uses clear metrics that help educate families on the best options for their children. That means evaluating curriculum, teacher qualifications and development, family and community partnerships and leadership and administration.”
“Health: Fewer than half of children with developmental delays are identified before they start school, and services for Medicaid-funded screenings for low-income children are often overlooked. We must increase screenings that identify physical and behavioral health concerns and provide appropriate referral and follow-up services. Meanwhile, early childhood centers need to promote healthful eating and physical activity, while working with parents to support these practices at home.”
“Workforce: All of our efforts are only as good as the people who execute them, but many of the people in our early-childhood workforce cannot afford to increase their qualifications. In Delaware, we offer scholarships to early-learning staff to support additional education; we’re invested in increased compensation for those with additional education who work in our top programs; and we’re training more licensed behavioral health specialists.”
“Workforce: All of our efforts are only as good as the people who execute them, but many of the people in our early-childhood workforce cannot afford to increase their qualifications. In Delaware, we offer scholarships to early-learning staff to support additional education; we’re invested in increased compensation for those with additional education who work in our top programs; and we’re training more licensed behavioral health specialists.”
Calling all teachers – is investment in early childhood education the best use of our limited resources? On the one hand, studies have consistently shown that investments in early childhood education provide significant benefits. But with limited funds, can taxpayer money be better spent elsewhere in the education system? Is the money better spent by providing more scholarships for college education, for example? And what do you think of Gov Markell’s approach?
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