by: Nola Renz, Community Impact Manager - Early Grade Success
Research has shown that the early years in a child’s life,
when the brain is forming, represent a critically important window of
opportunity to develop a child’s full potential and shape key academic, social
and cognitive skills that determine a child’s success in school and life.
Even at the start of Kindergarten, children from low-income
families lag academically behind peers from higher-income families on key
indicators because of a lack of access to early learning experiences.
We know that high-quality early learning opportunities are a
sound investment that reduces the need for other services that may include
remedial education and grade repetition. Improving access to these
opportunities would “change the story” for our children.
Building a habit of regular attendance, starting with
preschoolers, ensures children fully benefit from high quality learning
experiences and gain skills that will serve them well in school.
Summer is an important time for preparing children and their families to start school, ready to learn and ready to thrive.
