Failing grade: Idaho preschool
By Samantha Malott and Shanon Quinn, Moscow-Pullman Daily News, Moscow, Idaho | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
According to the 2014 Kids Count Data Book, 35 percent of 3- and 4-year-old children in
Although an improvement from the 31 percent enrolled in 2007, roughly 31,000 young children are not enrolled in preschool programs in
"I would love to have one," Bailey said. "But right now, with our current funding, I think our legislators should focus on the funding for the current grade levels."
The new report paints a mixed picture for children's well-being in
The data book information has four categories: education, family and community, health and economic well-being.
education.
average in economic well-being at 27th.
During the 2013-14 school year,
"We accept kids in the preschool program who have special needs at the age of 3 and up," he said. "Usually the state doesn't provide enough funding to take care of a complete program."
There are other options in the community, including local educational day care programs, private preschools and even home-schooling children to prepare them for kindergarten, he said.
Jessup said students aren't forced to learn to read because they gain that skill in kindergarten, but they learn their letters, numbers and the basic skills of sharing, making friends, listening quietly to the teacher and even lining up at the door, she said.
"If they haven't had these experiences, these first days of kindergarten can be a very scary experience," Jessup said, adding kindergarten teachers have told her they can see the difference between students who have and have not gone through a preschool program.
It has been shown through a number of studies that students who attend preschool have higher test scores, lower behavior problems, higher rates of participation, lower rates of drug abuse and depression, lower rates of grade repetition, higher graduation rates, reduced crime involvement and improved employment opportunities and earnings, said
An earlier, stronger start in school has shown to improve students' performance both in and outside of the classroom, which could help improve the other struggling area's of the
--Math: Although still not an impressive percentage, the number of the
--Reading:
The report uses results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress test, which is completed by all students at the beginning of their fourth-grade year.
According to the report, fourth-graders are expected to understand the text, remember facts and make inferences.
"They should be able to extend the ideas in the text by making inferences, drawing conclusions, and making connections to their own experiences," the report's explanation reads.
In the
Maxwell said reading proficiency by the fourth grade is one of many signs that could indicate future successes.
"Students being able to read at a young age can tell us how generally effective they'll be in later grades," Maxwell said.
"It's one of the basic foundations of education," Maxwell added. "It's how students learn."
--Graduation: Both states also saw increases in the number of students graduating from high school on time. Only 16 percent of
--Poverty: Disappointing numbers came out of the economic well-being category, as both states continued to see negative changes in the number of children living in poverty or parents who lack secure employment. There were an estimated 8,000
--Health: Despite these declining educational and economic standings, there have been positive improvements in student health in the states. Children without health insurance in
More information on local and national student data can be found at http://datacenter.kidscount.org/.
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