Michigan Falling Behind Other States in Offering Universal Pre-School

"When do children learn the fastest? Scientific studies are unanimous that it's from birth to age five.

So when do we start sending them to school?

In most cases, not till Kindergarten, which usually begins at age five. In other words, there's a vast disconnect between what we know and what we do. Which brings us to the "Pre-K" movement, which recognizes that what happens from birth is hugely important, and that kids ought to be going to school earlier.

Now let's look at the record. The Center for Michigan, the non-partisan, non-profit "think and do tank" (Phil Power) founded, had an education action group meeting this March. An issues guide prepared for that meeting revealed that as of two years ago, 16 percent of Michigan four-year-olds were in federally funded Head Start preschools. State-funded pre-K programs served another 18 percent.

But that leaves out nearly two-thirds of the rest. How do we do in comparison with other states? Not as well as we should. Currently, Michigan ranks 19th as a proportion of population served, while we rank 16th in support per child enrolled — below where we should be."

More of Phi Power's comments at the Center for Michigan:

www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/missing-the-potential-of-michigans-youngest-students/