Save a child, save a city

As the governor and legislators begin to plan the upcoming session, it is time for parents, child advocates and community leaders to speak to up for the most critical need that must be addressed — the area of education that will deliver the greatest return on investment for our children — quality early childhood education. The state must continue to seek Federal funding to help build programs, oversee each program to assure maximum quality and coordination, and dedicate our state to providing quality early-childhood education to our citizens.

With nearly one in four living in poverty — the highest rate in the country —Louisiana’s children face great challenges in achieving a quality education, adequate employment, and a happy life. Even with recent progress and improving scores, we have a long way to go before we can claim to have provided all our children with the tools they need to be successful. While Louisiana ranks sixth nationally in expenditure per pupil and fifth in teacher pay increases, the outcomes are stubbornly revealing: Our state is still woefully behind in educational success.

The research supporting the importance of quality education at the vulnerable years from birth to kindergarten is significant. In fact, statistics from the current LA–4 program demonstrate irrefutably the value and necessity of that program to assure student success. Yet one in three four-year-olds is still not enrolled in quality kindergarten.

But it is not just dollars that are needed. While there are a variety of programs available, there is a serious disconnect between programs on a local and statewide basis. And there is no system-wide evaluation or data collection on student achievement or outcomes across early-childhood programs. We must hold educators accountable for one of the most important needs our state has — educating our children.

We can achieve historic educational accomplishments for our children in the coming term. But it will take all of our efforts to succeed. Speak up and let our leaders know that you want them to support quality early childhood education.

Save a child, save a city.

– Phyllis Landrieu

This article was originally published in the November 7, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper