Post by title1parent on Aug 24, 2008 6:34:00 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/opinions/1122979,2_4_AU24_CHAPA_S1.article
I believe this article was written by State Rep Linda Chapa LaVia.
School program starts kids off right
August 24, 2008 Beacon Opinion
Our kids are our future, and we have to make sure they are prepared to live productive, happy and successful lives. Now more than ever, that preparation starts at a very early age.
To make sure our kids get off to the best start possible, I sponsored a new law to extend the state's Preschool for All Children program, which paves the way to a successful life for so many of our kids. In addition, through the new state budget, Illinois now invests $380 million in early education programs, a $137 million increase over the last four years.
Early education is vital to helping our kids make it in an increasingly competitive society. Studies back up this statement by showing that children who receive an early education have better achievement scores, higher graduation rates and fewer behavior problems. Children who begin reading at age 3 or 4 do better in school, are 20 percent more likely to complete high school and 41 percent less likely to be placed in special education. In addition, children enrolled in early education programs are much less likely to be arrested as a juvenile for a violent offense, and will have half as many criminal arrests.
The Preschool for All Children program allows communities to offer high-quality preschool programs in public and private schools, child care centers and other venues to students 3 and 4 years old. The program requires that preschools be staffed by experienced teachers with specialized training in early education, and provides more than two hours per day of instruction designed to foster the skills that all young children need to achieve success in school and later in life.
Our commitment to early education is having proven results. The National Institute for Early Education Research of Rutgers University declared Illinois a national leader on this issue for being the first state committed to serving all 3-year-olds.
Our pre-kindergarten program was ranked first nationally for enrolling 19 percent of the state's 3-year-olds, according to The State of Preschool 2007: State Preschool Yearbook. The report also found that our early education programs meet nine out of the 10 quality benchmarks named in the publication.
Because of our success and the proven results of the Preschool for All program, the new law extending the program earned the support of Voices for Illinois Children, Ounce of Prevention Fund, Illinois Action for Children, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois, Latinos United, Illinois Education Association and the Illinois Federation of Teachers.
As a member of the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee, I will continue to work hard each and every day to make sure our kids have the best chance to succeed in life. If we invest the time and money in our children now, and if we work together and set priorities for success, our communities and our children will see a much brighter future. If you would like more information, please contact our full-time district office at (630) 264-6855.
I believe this article was written by State Rep Linda Chapa LaVia.
School program starts kids off right
August 24, 2008 Beacon Opinion
Our kids are our future, and we have to make sure they are prepared to live productive, happy and successful lives. Now more than ever, that preparation starts at a very early age.
To make sure our kids get off to the best start possible, I sponsored a new law to extend the state's Preschool for All Children program, which paves the way to a successful life for so many of our kids. In addition, through the new state budget, Illinois now invests $380 million in early education programs, a $137 million increase over the last four years.
Early education is vital to helping our kids make it in an increasingly competitive society. Studies back up this statement by showing that children who receive an early education have better achievement scores, higher graduation rates and fewer behavior problems. Children who begin reading at age 3 or 4 do better in school, are 20 percent more likely to complete high school and 41 percent less likely to be placed in special education. In addition, children enrolled in early education programs are much less likely to be arrested as a juvenile for a violent offense, and will have half as many criminal arrests.
The Preschool for All Children program allows communities to offer high-quality preschool programs in public and private schools, child care centers and other venues to students 3 and 4 years old. The program requires that preschools be staffed by experienced teachers with specialized training in early education, and provides more than two hours per day of instruction designed to foster the skills that all young children need to achieve success in school and later in life.
Our commitment to early education is having proven results. The National Institute for Early Education Research of Rutgers University declared Illinois a national leader on this issue for being the first state committed to serving all 3-year-olds.
Our pre-kindergarten program was ranked first nationally for enrolling 19 percent of the state's 3-year-olds, according to The State of Preschool 2007: State Preschool Yearbook. The report also found that our early education programs meet nine out of the 10 quality benchmarks named in the publication.
Because of our success and the proven results of the Preschool for All program, the new law extending the program earned the support of Voices for Illinois Children, Ounce of Prevention Fund, Illinois Action for Children, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois, Latinos United, Illinois Education Association and the Illinois Federation of Teachers.
As a member of the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee, I will continue to work hard each and every day to make sure our kids have the best chance to succeed in life. If we invest the time and money in our children now, and if we work together and set priorities for success, our communities and our children will see a much brighter future. If you would like more information, please contact our full-time district office at (630) 264-6855.