Month: December 2019

AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREStriving toward a more perfect me: Doug McIntyre “There’s an educational achievement gap in California, with the same groups of children starting behind and staying behind, years after they enter elementary school,” said Rand economist Lynn Karoly, who headed the studies. “Our project is intended to examine the role that improved early childhood education may play in closing the gap by better preparing children to succeed in school,” Karoly said. While area educators praise the benefits of early childhood education, they also say a quality preschool program costs money – and until those funds are provided, more struggles lie ahead. “I know people don’t like to hear this, but if they want quality preschools, we have to have highly qualified teachers – and that’s what costs money,” said Calvin Moore, executive director of Plaza de la Raza HeadStart/State Preschool program. Plaza operates 32 centers in southeast Los Angeles County, including sites in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier. The program offers education, family, health and nutrition services to more than 2,400 youngsters. Kindergartners who aren’t ready for school often still lag behind the pack in later years – and even though a quality preschool program could fix this, California’s early education system isn’t yet set up to do it. That’s according to the Rand Corp., which recently released a pair of studies that documented a patchwork of 11 federal, state and local programs that provided services for about 250,000 3- and 4-year-olds in California in 2006. The Rand Corp. is a nonprofit group that objectively researches challenges facing the public and private sectors and offers solutions. These studies, part of the California Preschool Study Project, were commissioned by lawmakers to help them decide whether to reform or expand preschool education. All of Plaza’s teachers have at least a two-year college degree, Moore said, but most have bachelor’s and some have master’s degrees. “We really dispel the notion that preschool teachers are not highly qualified, but they also have to be paid as such,” he added. “That’s where we struggle. We don’t have the kind of funding that allows us to pay them what they’re worth.” In the Rand study, researchers said 80 percent of the state’s preschoolers are in publicly subsidized programs that focus on school readiness rather than just providing child care. But some don’t meet national quality standards, with little incentive to improve. The remaining 20 percent, the study showed, are in publicly supported programs with even lower standards, or are in unregulated child care. At Altadena Christian Children’s Center, the school adopted “Creative Curriculum,” a preschool program that not only addresses the development of every student but gives teachers some creative flexibility. The curriculum is centered around learning stations where students can go to learn art, music or science, said Toni Boucher, the school’s executive director. About five years ago, school officials decided to review the school’s curriculum to see if they were preparing students to “walk into kindergarten and feel competent,” Boucher added. Many of the students will enroll in Pasadena Unified public schools, and based on informal feedback, the parent response is positive. “They feel their children are ready and have gotten the academic and social skills,” Boucher said. Finding high-quality preschools is difficult and for parents who are navigating the unfamiliar turf of early education, Boucher offers some tips. The school needs to be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, which is a voluntary process that ensures a level of quality and teacher-child interaction. Group size and ratio is important. The smaller the group of students, the possibility of a higher quality of education, Boucher adds. Teacher qualification is also integral, and parents should look at how a teacher engages students. A hands-on approach at that age is more beneficial than handing out ditto sheets. Boucher notes that based on the Rand study findings, “We have an obligation to make preschool accessible to students.” In the Rand studies, researchers said expanding high-quality preschool programs may help boost academic achievement among students who frequently struggle in school. However, the next Rand study – to be published next year – will give a more definitive answer about the effects of changes in preschool policies, officials said. tracy.garcia@sgvn.com (562) 698-0955, Ext. 3051 caroline.an@sgvn.com (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4494160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! read more