Playdough, Crayons, Books and Blocks: Imagining a Future Where Early Childhood Education is Accessible for All

Walk into a preschool classroom again and there is a chance you’ll feel the sweet nostalgia of stepping into a child-sized world: miniature chairs and tables, boxes of colorful crayons and art supplies, bins full of picture books, a swelling sense of possibility, eagerness and curiosity.

Preschool classrooms are cacophonous worlds of children skipping, singing, learning and imagining. Each and every day, there is a child who learns a new word, makes a new friend or learns a valuable life skill, like tying their shoes. These are fundamental early lessons, but they are not a given.

Creating Abundant Early Learning Environments

Children who receive a high-quality early childhood education are provided an abundant learning environment where they can explore, problem-solve and be introduced to healthy new experiences that prepare them for the world. These early experiences affect children’s future physical, cognitive, emotional and social development and have an avalanche-effect on their successes later in life.But there are many children in Minnesota who aren’t provided this opportunity. Close the Gap reports that there are 35,000 low-income children under the age of five in Minnesota (those most likely to fall into achievement gaps) who cannot access early learning programs. The cost of preschool in Minnesota is simply too far out of reach for most low-income families.

The Problem of Affordability

The state of Minnesota has two programs that provide funding for children’s early education, but the funding is partial and in some cases, only available after two to three years on a waitlist. Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota found that 83 percent of families who qualify for early learning scholarships through the State of Minnesota don’t receive them because of this.The result is that parents who want to offer their children this essential experience are left without affordable options, and the effects start to set in.

The Age When the Achievement Gap Blooms

It’s after the tender age of five that achievement gaps begin to balloon. By third grade, only 38.6 percent of students of color in Minnesota are meeting reading standards, compared to 66.1 percent of their white counterparts.By the time students are in high school, the opportunity gap has taken a bigger toll. According to the U.S. Department of Education, high school graduation rates for students of color in Minnesota are grim: Minnesota ranks dead last in the nation for Latino students, 48th in the nation for African-American students, 46th for Asian-American students and 45th in the nation for Native-American students. (All compared to 34th in the nation for white students.)

Investing Early Equity

There are many factors contributing to the achievement gaps in Minnesota, but access to early learning programs is one of the greatest. The skills children gain in preschool have ongoing effects on school outcomes, health and parenting skills. Long-term effects continue to reduce costs to society through decreases in services and higher productivity later in life.Investment in our children consistently beats the seven percent average return on investment delivered by the U.S. Stock Market. Economists have found that every one dollar invested in high-quality early learning yields a $16 return cost savings in education, human services and justice system savings, as well as increased tax revenue.

“Even as a parent who loves my children unconditionally, I can’t provide all of the early education that is so critical for my children."

Creating Opportunities for All Children to Thrive

Parents all over Minnesota see the importance of early childhood education and eagerly seek the opportunity for their children. “Even as a parent who loves my children unconditionally, I can’t provide all of the early education that is so critical for my children," says Lalise Negassa, a YWCA Early Childhood Education parent. “I love and nurture my children, I read to my children, but I can’t give all of the attention that my children’s teachers can give them. YWCA Minneapolis has the structure and curriculum to make sure my children are learning and meeting their developmental milestones.”By investing in Minnesota’s children early, we are preparing them for lifelong success. We are creating a future where every child has an opportunity to learn, imagine and thrive.Learn more about YWCA Early Childhood Education

Learn more about the Learn and Grow Scholarship Fund