Letter: Invest in early childhood education to close achievement gap ...

To the Editor:

Minnesota currently has one of the most daunting achievement gaps in the nation. Unfortunately, this unacceptable achievement gap starts well before kindergarten.

Today, nearly half of all 5-year-olds in Minnesota arrive at kindergarten not prepared to learn. And research proves that when children are behind at age 5, they are less likely to ever catch up.

Right now, our legislators have the opportunity to close that gap by providing access to quality early learning programs for all children, regardless of family income or geographic location.

Access to quality early learning programs is proven to improve school readiness outcomes for all kids. And when kids enter school ready to succeed, they reap the benefits for the rest of their lives. And so does our state.

In order to work towards closing the achievement gap, we must make significant investments in our state?s youngest kids. Investing in quality early learning programs has one of the highest returns. Contrasted against the huge cost to all of us when kids aren?t prepared, it?s clear that ensuring every child has the opportunity to attend a quality early learning program is the best place for Minnesota to start closing the achievement gap.

Katrina Kozak

Kozak is director of child care center New Horizon Academy in Fridley.

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Source: http://focus.mnsun.com/2013/04/04/letter-invest-in-early-childhood-education-to-close-achievement-gap/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=letter-invest-in-early-childhood-education-to-close-achievement-gap

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