It is generally acknowledged that the only sure path out of poverty is a quality education. Why then, when the Kids Count Data Book shows North Carolina child poverty at the highest level in a decade, is the state legislature denying our children a way out?
The latest Kids Count Data Book was released last month and its information is sobering. The rate of North Carolina child poverty has climbed 21 percent over the last decade. In 2009, that translated to half a million children living in poverty in our state alone. North Carolina ranks 38th in overall child well-being – a fact that should give our legislators pause as they shred a vital safety net, our pre-kindergarten program.
More at Four was established a decade ago to battle the educational effects of poverty by serving at-risk 4-year-olds. Since it was established in 2001, most of the children served – nearly 90 percent – have been those who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Other program participants have included those with low English proficiency, an identified disability, other chronic health condition, or an educational or developmental need. These children need that year of educational preparation to succeed once they begin kindergarten with their peers.
We know that poverty affects children’s academic opportunities, and because of that adverse effect on education, it almost always affects future employment opportunities as well. An under-employed population does not contribute to the tax base to the degree that an adequately employed population does. An under-employed population perpetuates the cycle of poverty.
Programs such as More at Four make a difference. A quality pre-K program provides exposure to reading and language arts. Children learn how to behave in a classroom setting. They become eager to learn. We can give children the foundation to be ready to learn when they enter kindergarten, or we can spend the rest of their academic careers helping them catch up.
The data demonstrate the effectiveness of More at Four. Children who have participated in More at Four have better language and literacy skills as well as better math skills than those who did not. This effect is seen regardless of the child’s poverty level, English language proficiency or other risk factors. More at Four works for children who are in need.
Keeping state-supported pre-kindergarten in place is common sense. We pay this bill now or we pay it later in terms of lower literacy and lower graduation rates. It is absolutely essential to helping put those children most at risk on the path to academic success. Restore it now.
Kelly Henry is a member of the Observer’s Community Advisory Board, which meets regularly with the editorial board to discuss local issues and contributes op-ed columns. She is a retired Navy officer and a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. She is an Army wife and the mother of four children.