Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1103796
such as Lindsay, where the vast majority of its 4,000 students are low-income and almost half are English learners. Teaching children how to learn D a r c e e C o l l i e r s i t s a t a t a b l e w i t h four of her students, who are working with brightly colored two- and three- dim ensional shap es. Collier ask s th e learners different questions about the shapes, such as which ones roll and which of them will stack. "is one," says kindergartner Monique, picking up a yellow cone, "because it has a base." Collier, an LTA member, is in her sixth year teaching transitional kindergarten and kindergarten, and has spent 12 years at LUSD. She was drawn to this age of students because of their excitement and eagerness to learn new things, which has only increased since the universal pre- school program launched. Collier says new students now enter her classroom ready to learn with established expecta- tions about school, letting her focus time Preschool Produces Positive Impacts H O W S U B S T A N T I A L A R E the benefits of early childhood education (ECE)? We asked Beth Meloy, senior researcher and policy analyst at the Learning Policy Institute. How can high-quality ECE* put children on the path to success in school and life? Children who attend high-quality preschool programs experience substantial learning gains and are more prepared for school compared with children who do not. We frequently see positive impacts on chil- dren's early literacy and mathematics skills, and in school engagement. Preschool can also have lasting effects far into children's later years of school and life. For example, children who regularly attend high-quality preschool programs are less likely to be identified as having special needs or to be held back in ele- mentary school than those who don't attend. How critical is ECE for vulnerable student populations? As early as 9 months of age, the differences in learning experiences of children growing up in low-income households and children from more affluent homes can lead to a gap in their devel- opment. These early developmental gaps can continue to grow through elementary and second- ary school unless they get access to high-quality learning opportunities, which have the potential to close the gap. Why is ECE so important for learners as they grow and develop? From birth to age 5, a child's brain is far more flexible than at any other time in life. During this window of opportunity, being well cared for in nurturing and engaging settings that embed learning into everyday routines and play is essential to healthy development. Young children learn by exploring their environment, experimenting, using language to communicate what they observe, and working with other children and teachers to solve problems. Engaging in that way, purposefully, while supporting each and every child on their individual learning trajectory, is complex work. That's why policies and funding that support early educator and school leader preparation, salaries, and professional development are so important. Why should states invest in preschool? The question is not whether preschool works but how to design and implement effective preschool programs that deliver on their promise. Estimates of the return on investment in preschool range from the modest (when followed into elementary school) — $2 for every $1 invested — to the substantial (when tracked through adulthood) — $17 for every $1 invested. Any return over $1 for every $1 spent means the preschool program pays for itself. *Elements of high-quality ECE include standards and curricula that address the whole child, are developmentally appropriate, and are effectively implemented; well- prepared teachers who receive ongoing coaching and mentoring; and assessments that consider children's academic, social-emotional and physical progress and contribute to instructional planning. See tinyurl.com/qualityECE for more. Assessment data collected in preschool allows kindergarten educator Casandra Luna to focus on student needs right away. 29 A P R I L / M AY 2 019 Beth Meloy