Foundations and Current Issues of Early Childhood Education/Chapter 9/9.2

Universal Preschool

Written By: Kara Flake

A Universal Preschool gives the chance for all three to five year olds to attend a preschool and receive a free education, no matter their social status. Children who receive preschool education are typically the children who come from wealthy families, those who can afford private schooling, or the children who are below the poverty line and meet the requirements for federally funded programs.

Table of Contents:

E. The importance of a preschool for all children
A. Who should pay for the universal preschool?

Children who are just above the poverty line seem to be overlooked. They still cannot afford to be sent to a preschool, but do not qualify for federally funded programs. These children make-up a great deal of the population and deserve admittance into a high quality preschool program. The payments for a universal preschool should come from state governments, but should be greatly supplemented by federal funding. They need to support this, for every child.

SIDE BAR :  "The United States needs to fund universal preschool." - Wilson Greene

B. Benefits

The benefits of a universal preschool are far larger than the costs and expenses state and federal governments would incur. Not only will the children who are just above the poverty line be able to also attend, but the other children of all circumstances will be able to also. This is a chance to give free education to all children, and which will benefit them in the long run. Children from low and middle socio-economic backgrounds would be given a high quality education, where if there is not a universal preschool, they most likely will not. Also, this would benefit handicapped children. They would provide more options and schools better equipped to deal with their problems. Research has shown that a high quality education given to a child before they turn five, results in significant long-term benefits for that child. One of the greatest benefits of a quality preschool is that you are able to motivate and activate the child’s brain when it is growing and developing at its fastest. These children who go through quality preschool programs are less likely to repeat a grade, need special education, or get into future trouble with the law system.

1. Children with handicaps and disabilities

The universal preschool would enable early detection of children’s learning disabilities. This would allow schools, teachers, and parents a much better opportunity to identify and also to understand the student’s disability. Overall, this will get the most out of the potential of students with disabilities. By expanding state and federal funding to put into action universal preschools, we will expand the opportunities and possibilities for handicapped students to learn in the least restrictive area, which is also under the Handicapped Children Act. Currently, many preschools focus on non-handicapped children, and therefore do not have sufficient funding or resources to care for handicapped children.

2. Children of low socio-economic backgrounds

Children who come from low socio-economic backgrounds can greatly benefit from high quality preschool programs, as well as all children. However, less than half of children in poverty attend preschool at ages three to four. This puts these children at a disadvantage already, and they are unprepared when entering primary school.

C. Where did the idea of a universal preschool begin?

A free universal preschool for every child is the new education flag. However, it is a very old idea that goes far back. Going as far back as in ancient times in Athens when Plato prescribed his work as “The Laws”, he described it as a sanctuary for children, beginning at age three, in order to lead up to his scheme for state education. This is the premise that defines early childhood education as the underpinning for future learning experiences and gathers many countries to advocate the universal preschool movement in their educational systems. Throughout many nations, there is a general agreement that early childhood education is an investment for success all through the following school years and beyond into adulthood.

D. School Psychologists support Universal Preschool

School psychologists’ jobs were primarily to only work and provide services to young children in the early childhood program with special education needs. However, that has changed. Now their job calls for an expanded role, focusing on school readiness and the provision of services to all young children and their families in a prevention-oriented approach that is likely to get the most out of efforts to advance educational and social outcomes. State initiatives have encouraged universal preschool, which "refers to the goal of making available to families of all 3- and 4-year-olds a program of services that provides high quality education for children and helps to prepare them for a successful entry to kindergarten". Children going from home to a school setting so suddenly, are very unprepared. They need school readiness, which is what the universal preschools will offer. With a high quality preschool education, research has shown that these children were less prone to retention, committing crimes, dropping-out, and so on. They were more prepared for going into primary school, and even further in the future, they had shown more advances in education. It has been shown that children have many diverse needs, which should all be met.

E. The importance of a preschool for all children

Why should all children have a free preschool education? What is so important? At such a young age, these children have not yet developed the ability to act with consideration and intention, nor are they able to learn on demand. They need this when going into higher education. It is a crucial time, and at this age is when they learn to do these things. This is one of the many reasons preschool is so important for children and that every child should have the opportunity to be in a quality preschool program. In preschool, they learn to go from reactive thinking, to being able to think before they actually act. These quality preschool programs should include proper teacher qualifications and training, small class sizes and teacher-to-student ratios, stimulating and motivating curriculum, and services that support the child and their family. The universal preschools will include this, along with so many other benefits that have been mentioned, for all the children.

REFERENCES:

Universal Preschool: A Costly But Worthy Goal., Greene, Wilson. Journal of Law & Education, Oct2006, Vol.35 Issue 4.

Guest Editorial: On Behalf of Children. Swiniarski, Louise Boyle. Early Childhood Education Journal, Feb2006, Vol.33 Issue 4.

Addressing School Readiness: Expanding School Psychology in Early Education. Hojnoski, Robin L.; Missall, Kristen N., School Psychology Review, 2006, Vol.35, Issue 4.

Multiple-Choice Questions:

1. When it comes to affording preschool programs, what children seem to be overlooked?

A. Children from high-class families

B. Children who are below the poverty line.

C. Children who are just above the poverty line.

2. Who should pay for universal preschools?

A. State governments

B. Teachers

C. All families

3. Where did this paper say that the idea of preschool originated?

A. in Ancient Egypt B. in Ancient Athens

C. in the United States

4. Children who attend a preschool are less likely to do all of the following, except:

A. be held back in school [retention]

B. commit crimes in the future

C. graduate

5. At first, school psychologist’s jobs were only to:

A. consult families

B. work with children who have special education needs

C. help with school readiness in the children

Multiple Choice Answer Key:

1. C

2. A

3. B

4. C

5. B

ESSAY QUESTION:

How do you feel a Universal Preschool program will help children?

Sample Response:

There are many children in the world whose parents/guardians cannot afford to send them to preschool. Some may meet the requirements where they can be offered federal funding programs, but may not be aware of that. Others are just above the poverty line where they do not meet the requirements and do not have any choices. The universal preschool programs give you a choice. Even though you are supposed to offer a fair education to all children, it still does not happen. This is a way to make it happen. It is important to give children the opportunity to grow and develop during such a crucial age. This is when their minds are growing and developing the fastest, and it is at these ages that we should help with that by giving them that education. It also helps prepare and get them ready for going into primary school. It makes the transition much easier than going straight from being at home to all of a sudden being in a classroom, being expected to do work and learn on demand. Learning on demand comes during the preschool age, and in a preschool setting is where it is supposed to be enhanced and supported. The benefits of preschool are amazing and research proves it. Also, research has shown that children who go to a quality preschool are less likely to get held back a grade, commit future crimes, or need special education.