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New report analyzes results of more than 100 early childhood programs and finds range of benefits
RAND has been studying the issue for nearly two decades, and this stu
dy is the most comprehensive and up-to-date conducted by the institution so far. It exam
ined 115 programs "with scientifically sound evaluation evidence" for the benefits of early childhood programs. Most of the programs reviewed targeted low-income
households, although some programs provided services to families regardless of income.
The majority of the programs studied (102) were found to have favorable effects on at least one child outcome.
The 19 programs whose evaluations included a formal cost-benefit analysis showed positive returns.
Estimated returns ranged from $2 to $4 for every dollar invested, accounting for savings to society resulting from better outcomes and achievement
for children.
The study also assessed programs beyond preschool, such as home visiting, parent education, government support in both cash and in-kind benefits, and some combining approaches. With a broad evidence base, the report states, policymakers can be "highly confident that well-designed and -implemented early childhood programs can improve the lives of children and their families."
Click here to download the full study at no cost, or read a shorter research brief
here.
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Credit: Fermin Leal, EdSource
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In what would be a significant shift from Gov. Jerry Brown's position on early education, the four leading Democratic candidates running to replace him next year say they are committed to offering universal preschool in California.
Under Gov. Brown's watch, California increased the number of subsidized preschool and child care slots, as well as access to transitional kindergarten for some 4-year-olds.
Brown rejected pressures to expand preschool to all low-income 4-year-olds, mainly citing the costs of such an expansion as the major impediment. In a setback for advocates two years ago, Brown vetoed what was called "The Preschool for All" legislation (
Assembly Bill 47).
But at an October event in Sacramento organized by
Advancement Project California as part of its
"Birth to Five Water Cooler" gathering, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, State Treasurer John Chiang and former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin all agreed that universal preschool was essential not only for children, but for the state.
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Credit: Liv Ames, EdSource
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In an effort to remove obstacles for Californians trying to succeed in the labor market, a new law could m
ake access to child care easier for low-income parents taking classes to learn English or complete high school.
The law will expand the eligibility requirements for subsidized child care. It wil
l make low-income parents who are are enrolled in English as a second language classes (ESL) or a program to earn a high school diploma or general education development certificate (GED) eligible to place their children in subsidized care.
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Credit: Support PDX / Flickr
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To that end, Gov. Jerry Brown signed
legislation last month that bars state-subsidized preschool programs from expelling kids unless an exhaustive process aimed at supporting the child and family is followed first.
Children can be expelled from preschool as a result of any number of aggressive behaviors that could jeopardize the safety of other students, such as biting, kicking and shoving, or even for verbal classroom disruptions such as screaming.
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| Credit: EdSource |
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A dozen parents gathered around veteran math educator Leanna Baker, moments before students show up for what is billed as a math "festival" for students at Allendale Elementary School in Oakland.
"Do your best not to give them an answer," Baker told the dozen parent volunteers about how best to help the
transitional kindergarten to fifth grade students participating in math activities arranged for that day. "We want them to be problem solvers."
Interviews by EdSource with educators at several school districts suggests that a growing number of elementary schools are hosting events like these for students and families to convey the message that math is fun and can be practiced every day in simple ways in their own lives, not just in the classroom.
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The NPR radio show Marketplace looked at how both the House and Senate's now-passed versions of their tax bill would affect child care costs and determined benefits would largely go to upper-income families: "Since a lot of low-income working families don't pay federal income taxes, they don't get a huge benefit. And that would not change much under either the House or Senate version."
Read a summary or listen to the full story here
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According to the
Los Angeles Times editorial board, if the federal Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides health insurance for 9 million children from low-income families (2 million of whom are in California) is not reauthorized soon, some states will begin dropping kids from the program, rolling back benefits or cutting services to make up for the lost federal dollars. California, however, is "legally committed to keep the program going until late 2019, but the loss of federal funding -- it received $2.4 billion for the program in fiscal 2016 -- would blow a huge hole in the state's budget."
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