#NNPA BlackPress
New Research Shows the Many Benefits of Early Learning
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — While the evidence is clear that pre-K makes a meaningful difference for children in the short and long term, children need access to high-quality programs to experience these benefits.
By CityHealth, an initiative of the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, and the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER)
While the evidence is clear that pre-K makes a meaningful difference for children in the short and long term, children need access to high-quality programs to experience these benefits. Access, however, remains unequal, particularly to programs that provide high-quality experiences.“An Updated Look at Pre-K in Large American Cities,” research findings include:
• Participation in high-quality pre-K has been found to have a positive, direct impact on children’s health through avenues such as access to nutritious meals and health screenings, and a positive, indirect impact through reducing parental stress and supporting mental health. For example, a study of New York City’s pre-K program found pre-K enrollment increased the probability that a child was diagnosed with asthma or vision problems, received treatment for hearing or vision issues, and had a screening or immunization during the pre-K year. In addition, a recent Tulsa, Oklahoma, study found that children who enroll in pre-K earlier than their peers (i.e., at age 3 instead of 4) are more likely to experience earlier identification of health problems such as eczema or vision concerns, which can lead to earlier treatment.
• Enrollment in pre-K can help close long-standing opportunity gaps in education and academic achievement for historically marginalized groups. For example, research suggests that low-income children may be up to 12 months behind their more advantaged peers when they start kindergarten; however, a high-quality, universal pre-K program could reduce achievement gaps by 27% in math and 41% in reading.
• Dual language learnersBy CityHealth, an initiative of the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, and National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER)
While the evidence is clear that pre-K makes a meaningful difference for children in the short and long term, children need access to high-quality programs to experience these benefits. Access, however, remains unequal, particularly to programs that provide high-quality experiences.“An Updated Look at Pre-K in Large American Cities,” research findings include:
• Participation in high-quality pre-K has been found to have a positive, direct impact on children’s health through avenues such as access to nutritious meals and health screenings and a positive, indirect impact through reducing parental stress and supporting mental health. For example, a study of New York City’s pre-K program found pre-K enrollment increased the probability a child was diagnosed with asthma or vision problems, received treatment for hearing or vision issues, and had a screening or immunization during the pre-K year. In addition, a recent Tulsa, Oklahoma, study found that children who enroll in pre-K earlier than their peers (i.e., at age 3 instead of 4) are more likely to experience earlier identification of health problems such as eczema or vision concerns, which can lead to earlier treatment.
• Enrollment in pre-K can help close long-standing opportunity gaps in education and academic achievement for historically marginalized groups. For example, research suggests that low-income children may be up to 12 months behind their more advantaged peers when they start kindergarten; however, a high-quality, universal pre-K program could reduce achievement gaps by 27% in math and 41% in reading.
• Dual language learners (DLLs) may uniquely benefit from pre-K attendance, particularly if they start early. For instance, one study of DLL children who enrolled in full-day pre-K before age 4 showed at least 90% of these children scored at least one level higher on an English proficiency test than their peers who did not enroll early.
• There are long-term benefits to pre-K participation, even if benefits may vary for different groups of children. Evidence from long-term studies of Head Start and intensive, small-scale interventions shows long-term benefits such as higher high school graduation rates and years of education completed, and lower rates of teenage pregnancy and crime.
• Pre-K attendance has been shown to have a positive impact on children’s executive functioning skills, such that children who attend pre-K begin kindergarten with better executive functioning skills than children who did not attend kindergarten.
• Children who attend pre-K are less likely to be chronically absent in later school years and more likely to take more challenging coursework in high school. Not only were pre-K attenders less likely to be chronically absent, but they also had better attendance overall compared to non-attenders.
Decades of research show that high-quality early learning programs can positively impact children’s learning, development, and health. Therefore, we strongly believe that access to a high-quality early learning program is one of the best investments a city can make. With funding from the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, CityHealth provides cities with evidence-based policy solutions and practical tools to improve the health and well-being of their residents. CityHealth provides a framework for advancing policies using a medal rating system to assess their progress and encourage improvement in public health outcomes.
Since 2017, CityHealth has partnered with the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), a nonpartisan research center, to conduct research on prekindergarten (pre-K) efforts operated at the city level, to promote its High-Quality, Accessible Pre-K policy solution.
(DLLs) may uniquely benefit from pre-K attendance, particularly if they start early. For instance, one study of DLL children who enrolled in full-day pre-K before age 4 showed at least 90% of these children scored at least one level higher on an English proficiency test than their peers who did not enroll early.
• There are long-term benefits to pre-K participation, even if benefits may vary for different groups of children. Evidence from long-term studies of Head Start and intensive, small-scale interventions shows long-term benefits such as higher high school graduation rates and years of education completed, and lower rates of teenage pregnancy and crime.
• Pre-K attendance has been shown to have a positive impact on children’s executive functioning skills, such that children who attend pre-K begin kindergarten with better executive functioning skills than children who did not attend kindergarten.
• Children who attend pre-K are less likely to be chronically absent in later school years and more likely to take more challenging coursework in high school. Not only were pre-K attenders less likely to be chronically absent, but they also had better attendance overall compared to non-attenders.
Decades of research show that high-quality early learning programs can positively impact children’s learning, development, and health. Therefore, we strongly believe that access to a high-quality early learning program is one of the best investments a city can make. With funding from the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, CityHealth provides cities with evidence-based policy solutions and practical tools to improve the health and well-being of their residents. CityHealth provides a framework for advancing policies using a medal rating system to assess their progress and encourage improvement in public health outcomes.
Since 2017, CityHealth has partnered with the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), a nonpartisan research center, to conduct research on prekindergarten (pre-K) efforts operated at the city level, to promote its High-Quality, Accessible Pre-K policy solution.
