In 2004, Gov. Mike Easley promised school districts around North Carolina a state-funded pre-kindergarten program for at-risk 4-year-olds. An upcoming North Carolina Supreme Court can will assess whether the state should now establish these programs for at-risk children.
It is vital that this program becomes implemented because inequity in education begins at a young age. It is easier and more sensible to give at-risk students an opportunity to attend pre-K rather than attempt to bring them up to speed through remedial programs down the road.
Opponents of this program point out the expensive price tag associated with implementing these programs; $300 million is a significant increase from the currently allocated $128 million.
However, the National Institute for Early Education Research found that the benefits of required pre-K far outweigh the monetary costs. Students who attend pre-K see less grade repetition and are less likely to be placed into special education programs. They also experience reduced delinquency, higher lifetime earnings, strong gains in achievement and a higher likelihood of graduation.
In fact, a longitudinal study of Chicago public schools estimates that every dollar invested in pre-K programs yields $7.14 in benefits.
Only five states currently have a stated objective of providing all 4-year-olds a guaranteed seat in preschool. One of which is Florida, which leads the nation with 76 percent of 4-year-olds attending preschool and funds pre-K programs through a state education lottery, which is a feasible solution.
The bottom line is that pre-K does produce substantial long-term gains. Investing in students early will result in a cost-saving approach that prioritizes an equal education for all North Carolina children.
