Arizona’s educational and economic future may be severely jeopardized if funding for early childhood education continues to diminish.
That seemed to be the consensus among more than 50 community leaders, educators and local officials who attended an Arizona Town Hall “Community Outreach Program” hosted by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on April 1.
ERAU Chancellor Frank Ayers opened the program by emphasizing that social and fiscal support for all levels of education are critical to future growth and development in Arizona.
Ayers was echoed by Arizona Town Hall President Tara Jackson. She explained that forums such as the one in Prescott were follow-ups to the November 2013 statewide town hall, which focused on “…the relationship of early education to Arizona’s economy, and maximizing resources to support the future.”
She added that early childhood learning is increasingly viewed as the most important predictor of later educational success.
Also speaking were Anne Rawlins, a retired Yavapai College faculty member who now works with First Things First-Prescott and Vicky LaMotte, director of the Del E. Webb Family Enrichment Center at Yavapai College’s Prescott campus.
Both educators stressed that current research is documenting that the first three to five years of a child’s mental and intellectual growth are the most important.
“We must become more passionate about providing stimulating educational environments for children, especially pre-school,” Lamotte said.
Humboldt Unified School District Superintendent Paul Stanton stressed, “Every single child should have access to opportunities for early childhood education. Regardless of ethnic background or income level, children have a right to quality educational experiences.”
Responding to a discussion question about ensuring educational opportunities so that all children can thrive, Yavapai County District 2 Supervisor Tom Thurman said, “I think I speak for all the county supervisors when I say we believe in early childhood education.”
He continued, “I particularly support Head Start program. We need to get information out to all younger families about the options available. We also need to put some resources into improving those programs.”
Thurman mentioned that he was active with the Northern Arizona Council of Governments, and that group had recently discussed the need for more emphasis on pre-school programs.
Mike Ellegood, a retired engineer who now lives in Prescott, advocated participating in the Adopt-A-Classroom organization as one means by which people can help support all schools – K through 12.
“Find a school or program near you and give it your help. I find it disturbing that we are spending more money on prisons and corrections programs than we are on schools,” he said.
The forum was led in part by Blaise Caudill, who represented the Arizona Deliberates organization.
ATH president Jackson concluded the program by presenting a statement that compiled and summarized recommendations from participants:
- Support for early education is critically important to the future. Research repeatedly demonstrates a strong return on investment from supporting early education. Simply put, Arizona must prioritize funding for early education. Funding can come from consolidation of school programs and from reduction of administrative costs. It also can come from utilizing volunteersfor home visits and through supplying resources and information to families who homeschool their children.
- Arizona should not discount the need to invest in early education through the use of increased taxes.
- Arizona needs to invest now in early education because of the serious future educational and economic impact it has on communities and the state.
The outreach program in Prescott was one of 12 conducted in the past three months by Arizona Town Hall in selected communities throughout Arizona. QCBN
Printed copies of the final report containing recommendation and the background report are available through the Arizona Town Hall office, 1 E. Camelback, Suite 530, Phoenix, 85012; or www.aztownhall.org.
By Ray Newton
Quad Cities Business News
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