Quality counts: Texas children need better pre-school education to enhance later performance
March 27, 2007
Since 2002, per-student funding for pre-school education in Texas has declined by 20 percent. Given the positive relationship between pre-kindergarten education and later school success, this decrease in spending at this prime learning period should grab our attention.
Written by the Editorial Board, Houston Chronicle
Since 2002, per-student funding for pre-school education in Texas has declined by 20 percent. Given the positive relationship between pre-kindergarten education and later school success, this decrease in spending at this prime learning period should grab our attention. While the spending rate puts the state at 26th — quite a bit higher than Texas often fares in such rankings — it isn't a level that fosters high-quality pre-school across the board.
Quality in pre-school education is as important as increased access. Good outcomes such as lowered dropout rates and better social skills in later years depend on low class size and sufficient teacher training. Research demonstrates that whether a young child is exposed to a poor home environment or low-quality pre-school, the inadequate results are difficult to remediate.
Texas' standings in a recent National Institute for Early Education Research study show that we are fifth in access to pre-school for 4-year-olds, while 26th in the level of resources provided. This disparity indicates that children in some programs are not receiving what's needed.
Legislators are considering additional support for pre-school education. S.B. 50, sponsored by Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo), proposes a multipronged approach to raising the quality of programs, including beefed up training requirements.
Improvement in this arena benefit children, and additional spending to improve programs and access is an investment in the state's economy. A Texas A&M study documents every $1 invested yields a $3.50 return. Costs for special education, criminal justice and child welfare are lower, while mothers' lifetime earnings are higher.
Pre-kindergarten programming is widely supported by voters and by advocacy coalitions such as One Voice Collaborative for Health and Human Services and Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition. Proponents in the Legislature form a bipartisan group. And the education establishment is firmly behind filling the need for these programs.
The Legislature should adopt measures that support quality programming and improve access to pre-school for the 55 percent of children who still lack it.
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