Many people don’t know that 90 percent of a child’s brain develops before the age of five. The early childhood years are critical for laying the foundation for the rest of a child’s life. Early interaction with parents, child-care providers and siblings all shape the nature and development of a child’s brain. But knowing something and doing something about it are two very different things.
We need to ensure that every child in Sonoma County has access to quality preschool to give them a strong start on the path to future success. High quality preschool is a necessity for our kids and should not be a luxury only available to relatively few families.
Studies show that children who have access to high quality preschools are more likely to read proficiently by third grade, graduate high school and attend college. Preschools provide learning environments with teachers who are trained specifically to work with young children and help them succeed. Preschool enables more young children to enter kindergarten ready to learn and excel in school — placing all students on equal footing the first day of kindergarten.
However, the reality in Sonoma County is that the cost of sending a child to preschool is out of reach for many of our families. More than half of local kids are not attending preschool. With a price tag of roughly $13,000 per year on average, preschool costs 39 percent of the median annual income for Sonoma County women.
To continue reading this op-ed by Cynthia Murray, member of the Sonoma County First 5 Commission, go to: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/o...me-why-we?artslide=0
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