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Gathering Places

Hamilton McCubbin

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Hawaii must prioritize
early childhood learning

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They're behind before they begin." It's a statement that deeply concerns educators and citizens statewide. This phrase describes many of our youngest children who enter kindergarten unprepared to learn. How can Hawaii guarantee their success? During the past nine months, the Legislature asked a School Readiness Task Force to meet with groups across the state and develop strategies to address this alarming issue.

It may seem unusual for Kamehameha Schools and other educators to worry about those children who are still too young to enter kindergarten. However, the preparation that young children receive before entering our formal education systems fundamentally improves student achievement. The early years are no longer a waiting period before kindergarten. Children who receive quality early learning opportunities are simply better prepared for school.

STAR-BULLETIN / 1996 Early education gives children a head start in learning. Above, children at Moiliili Hongwanji Preschool recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

The first five years of life take on a new importance when you consider that 85 percent of a child's development occurs during this time. One of our society's great injustices is that not all children receive the same opportunities. Research from the Economic Policy Institute now confirms that a distressingly large gap between the academic abilities of high- and low-income children is already observed by the age of 6.

To enable all children to succeed in kindergarten and subsequent school experiences, communities, families and schools must accept the responsibility of collective action. Our challenge is daunting; kindergarten teachers suggest that more than half of their students enter their classrooms unprepared. So, what can we do to meet this challenge?

The School Readiness Task Force presented the state Legislature with two concrete recommendations designed to improve school readiness throughout Hawaii:

>> provide all 3- and 4-year-old children with voluntary statewide access to quality early learning opportunities, such as preschool;

>> establish a school readiness network to provide information and resources to families and community care providers.

These actions have popular support. The People's Pulse, a recent poll commissioned by the Hawaii Business Roundtable, Enterprise Honolulu and the Pacific Resource Partnership, found that 76 percent of Hawaii residents believe state government should subsidize preschool so all families can afford to send their children.

No strategy has proven more effective to close the K-12 achievement gap than quality early childhood education. Investing in this preventive strategy ultimately will save Hawaii money. Research indicates that every $1 invested in early childhood saves the state $7 in foregone remedial education, reduced welfare dependency and lower crime.

Hawaii's current investment falls far short of the need. Only half of our estimated 15,000 low-income 3- and 4-year-olds receive subsidies to enroll in some type of preschool program. An increased commitment will help ensure that all of our children enter kindergarten ready to succeed, and ultimately will make our jobs as educators easier.

If Hawaii is to achieve the goal of a literate citizenry spelled out by President Bush's "No Child Left Behind Act," we must do everything in our power to close this achievement gap before it is further perpetuated.

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Hamilton McCubbin, chancellor and CEO of Kamehameha Schools, is co-chairman of the School Readiness Task Force.