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Toni Minard has seen her daughter thrive with her full day, transitional kindergarten preschool program in Ankeny. "She is getting to be integrated into the structure of the school day. She rides the bus, so she is getting used to that as well." The full day option also makes preschool possible. "We wouldn't be able to do the two-hour program. We couldn't pick her up in the middle of the day."

The benefits of preschool are far reaching. They range from increased literacy and graduation rates to more employable adults and reduced crime. Iowa has a great opportunity to increase success during and after school.

This opportunity will come from increasing funding for full day preschool. Iowa currently ranks 39th in the country in state spending for preschool.

When it comes to investing in education in Iowa, this is not a can to be kicked down the road. "The brain is 90% developed by the age of five. We need to be investing in our kids at our early age because it impacts them not just immediately, but throughout their life." Kristin Rourk, Director of Early Childhood at Des Moines Public Schools told me.

The impact of intervening at this early age is what made Elisha Crow transition to teaching preschool. "I was patching holes in the skills that kids were missing and so it made teaching harder even when the kids were six and seven years old. So, when the openings came up for preschool in the district, I jumped on it. I was just thinking maybe we can get these kids off on the right foot as they enter into kindergarten." Crow has taught for 13 years in Des Moines and has seen "as they get older, those gaps get wider and impact how they do in high school. If they're constantly feeling that they have to catch up, it only gets harder."

And Crow and colleagues are not only passionate about connecting with children in the classroom. At the beginning of the year, preschool teachers make home visits and talk with the families about barriers they might have - everything from housing and transportation to assistance with doctor visits. They then connect families with the school social worker to help with resources.

Des Moines school officials would like to see all children be able to access preschool. It will be a while before they see that goal realized. "Less than 50% of our students that attend Des Moines are attending preschool," Rourk says. "And our demographics that are attending preschool are not representative of our district population."

This lack of full day access is not unique to Des Moines. In Oskaloosa, "We've had waiting lists of over 60 for that [full day] classroom. And we really lose money on it. We're taking a hit, doing [full day programming]. But there's such a huge need. We are in a childcare desert," Katie Trainer, Early Childhood Director at Oskaloosa Schools told me. She went on to say that just in the past year at least five in-home childcare centers have closed, leaving parents of young children without care during the workday.

Access to quality early childhood education increases the chance of academic success for students, and some studies show as much as $17 return on investment for every $1 spent on these programs.

And the benefits don't stop at the classroom door. "For every on 1% increase in high school graduation rate of males in America, you reduce the crime rate in 3 areas - aggravated assault, homicide and auto theft," said Dr. Ian Roberts, Superintendent of the Des Moines Public School District said, citing research at a public meeting Nov 16.

Rourk says the advantages of preschool extend beyond the child receiving early education. "The impact of preschool is now showing multi-generational impacts. Of the grandkids of those that attended preschool, they have higher earnings and are more successful in school. When you're successful as a parent, you are able to set your own kids up for success."

Trainer is passionate about ensuring children in her district are set up for success "I want them to be a place where they're comfortable and feel welcome. I want to partner with our teachers for a seamless transition so that they have a great experience of school."

But many children who would benefit most from full-day preschool are missing out. Transportation and work schedule barriers make pick up and drop off at the two-hour programs difficult if not impossible, for working parents. Districts are doing their best to fill in the gaps "To get to that full day funding, either districts are eating the costs or parents are having to pay for it," Rourk told me.

Earlier this year, there was strong bipartisan support for a literacy bill, especially given that in Iowa "34% of third graders not reading proficiently." In May, Gov. Reynolds signed HF2618 to require evidence based reading interventions and student support with the goal of improving literacy. In her press release, the governor said that "holding steady isn't nearly good enough. We know that a lifetime of learning begins in the earliest years of school with the foundational skill of literacy."

Trainer highlights the importance of preschool on meeting that goal, "Oral Language Foundation building vocabulary is huge to the success of reading." The law requires monitoring students who are at risk in reading and providing intensive instruction for those who need it. Trainer explains, "If we would invest in the early childhood, we may not have to invest so much down the road. Changing the mindset that literacy intervention doesn't need to happen reactively, we can do it proactively. Preschool is the way to do it. If we want to see our students in Iowa be successful, if we want Iowa to get back to where it was as a leader in education, investing in preschool is a huge way to be able to achieve these things."

Dr. Roberts expresses the same sentiment in another way, "If we do not get this right for the state of Iowa, we are going to perpetuate mediocrity and failure. The data is clear."

You can help Iowa families by contacting your legislator to increase full day preschool funding.

Chris Espersen is a Gazette editorial fellow. [email protected]

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