Preschool Education Is Not Accessible To All
A new study has been released claiming that kids from low income and minority families are not getting good preschool education in one of the richest states of the United States of America, in California. For this study, researchers have surveyed 2,000 parents and 700 state providers.
SignOnSanDiego.com reports according to this study, black, Hispanic and low income parents reported the most difficulty finding the care they wanted.
The study also found that parental education played a role: 45 percent of children whose mothers didn’t finish high school were enrolled in preschools. Meanwhile there was an 80 percent enrollment for children whose mothers have a graduate or professional degree.
According to cbs5.com, the parental education has also played its role, 45 percent of the kids from families in which mothers hold High School diplomas, kids were enrolled in preschools, while the 80 percent of other enrolled children, their mothers have a graduate or professional degree.
Researchers surveyed 2,000 California parents of 3- and 4-year-olds, interviewed more than 700 state providers, and observed 250 child care and preschool centers. They found that just under half of 3- and 4-year-olds in economically disadvantaged families are in preschool programs of any quality, compared to 70 percent of children whose families are better off.
Debra Watkins, the founder of the California Alliance of African American Educators, is quoted commenting on this problem.
“We can’t close the achievement gap unless we close the preparedness gap before kindergarten. As a former high school teacher of nearly 30 years, I certainly see what happens (to students who) do not have high quality preschool by the time they reach high school, where we have a dropout problem,” Watkins said.
Photo: © Fine Rain
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