Kindergarten Funding Debate Overlooks Key Facts
The Los Angeles-based
Reason Foundation has updated and released the 2005 Goldwater
Institute policy report, Assessing
Proposals for Preschool and Kindergarten: Essential Information
for Parents, Taxpayers and Policymakers. The updated report is co-authored by Goldwater
Institute President Darcy Olsen and Reason Foundation Education
Director Lisa Snell.
Arizona, California, and states
throughout the country are considering taxpayer funded
preschool and all-day kindergarten. This report is an
up-to-date summary of key findings on the effectiveness of
current and previous preschool and kindergarten programs.
throughout the country are considering taxpayer funded
preschool and all-day kindergarten. This report is an
up-to-date summary of key findings on the effectiveness of
current and previous preschool and kindergarten programs.
"As the early childhood education
funding debate rages across the U.S., policymakers and
taxpayers need to know if these programs are worth the
investment," says Darcy Olsen, President of the Goldwater
Institute.
funding debate rages across the U.S., policymakers and
taxpayers need to know if these programs are worth the
investment," says Darcy Olsen, President of the Goldwater
Institute.
Two states have implemented universal
preschool in the last ten years, Oklahoma and Georgia. The
latest National Assessment of Educational Progress test scores
show that while fourth-grade reading scores have trended
modestly upward nationwide, the scores of students in Georgia
and Oklahoma are falling.
preschool in the last ten years, Oklahoma and Georgia. The
latest National Assessment of Educational Progress test scores
show that while fourth-grade reading scores have trended
modestly upward nationwide, the scores of students in Georgia
and Oklahoma are falling.
New findings by researchers at Stanford
University and University of California, Berkeley show that
preschool can hinder social development and encourage poor
social behavior, such as bullying and aggression, and children
who attend preschool often demonstrate a lack of motivation to
participate in classroom activity. There is no widely available
information on the long-term impact of preschool on these
behaviors.
University and University of California, Berkeley show that
preschool can hinder social development and encourage poor
social behavior, such as bullying and aggression, and children
who attend preschool often demonstrate a lack of motivation to
participate in classroom activity. There is no widely available
information on the long-term impact of preschool on these
behaviors.
Olsen continued, "Parents need to
know that preschool and kindergarten can be helpful to
children, but it can also be harmful. There is no evidence that
children who attend preschool or all-day kindergarten perform
better in school, or life. Sometimes being home with mom and
dad is the best thing for a child."
know that preschool and kindergarten can be helpful to
children, but it can also be harmful. There is no evidence that
children who attend preschool or all-day kindergarten perform
better in school, or life. Sometimes being home with mom and
dad is the best thing for a child."
Read the updated version of Assessing Proposals for Preschool and
Kindergarten: Essential Information for Parents, Taxpayers and
Policymakers.
Kindergarten: Essential Information for Parents, Taxpayers and
Policymakers.
Starlee Rhoades is the Director of Communications at the Goldwater Institute.
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