EARLY CHILDHOOD BENEFITS , IMPACT AND KEYS TO MAKE EDUCATION SUCCESSFULLY ......................

Expected Benefits  

Special education referrals and retention in grade are decreased by such early prevention strategies. It appears to take intensive efforts over a period of several years to produce lasting effects, but the fact that even the least intensive models produce strong immediate effects suggests that a combination of approaches within a comprehensive preventive program will have great promise in increasing children's cognitive functioning. Strategies that include birth-to-three, preschool, and kindergarten programs can ensure that children enter first grade with good language development, cognitive skills, and self-concepts regardless of their family background or personal characteristics. Schweinhart & Weikart (1985) found that early intervention for young at-risk children decreased the dropout and juvenile delinquency rate.

Impact of Early Childhood Education

Research has revealed that effective early schooling experiences include preventive health and nutrition components and involve parents as their children's first teachers. Children with prekindergarten experience through programs such as Head Start had parents who were more involved in their children's school activities. Because of this influence on parental involvement, prekindergarten experience appears to have an indirect, positive effect on first grade academic achievement and on children's social adjustment. In studies with matched control groups, more students who had early schooling experiences were employed at age 19, fewer were on welfare, and fewer were involved with the criminal justice system.

In 1988, the Arizona Legislature initiated the Arizona At-Risk Pilot Project. This was a longitudinal evaluation study of 55 district- and school-based programs for students at risk of academic failure. The study's focus was to identify what works for targeted at-risk students. The portion of the study investigating the 42 programs implemented at the K-3 level found that reduced student/staff ratios, full-day kindergartens, and tutorial programs consistently appeared to be effective. The study found a steady decrease in the number of children retained in the pilot sites, an increase in attendance, and gains in language and reading scores.

Key Elements of Successful Programs

Best practices in early childhood education are identified as Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP). DAP is age, individually, and culturally appropriate. The most important component is a caring classroom. Early intervention effects include lower rates of retention, higher levels of academic achievement, fewer special education services, and a stronger commitment to graduating from high school (Stegelin, 2004). Children who participate in these programs build confidence, competence and skills (Wishon, Huang, & Needham, 1987). Research demonstrates that early childhood education is definitely a good investment.