California

The Preschool for All Act
Developing for the future
Posted 10/11/2005

As enrollment for preschool programs has risen in recent years, so have the costs for private schooling and waitlists for public classes. The situation leaves many children, largely representative of low- to middle-income groups, at home all day, which often prevents them from acquiring critical learning skills.

The Preschool for All Act, tentatively scheduled for the June 2006 ballot, would provide free, high-quality preschool care for all 4-year-olds in California through a 1.7 percent tax on the wealthiest 1 percent of Californians. With only 54 percent of eligible children currently attending preschool, the state needs to be responsible for ensuring kids receive proper education at all ages.

Since numerous studies show that over 90 percent of brain development occurs before the age of five, preschool education sets the foundation required for the impending educational path. Early instruction helps familiarize children with words, numbers, social techniques and problem-solving strategies.

The National Institute for Early Education Research found that preschoolers are more likely to graduate high school and less likely to need learning assistance. Those students have a greater chance to continue on to college and have access to larger salaries.

Although additional taxation is not the ideal method for funding such a venture, the alternatives are not reasonable options. Pulling money from other programs, especially the educational system, would be a blow to an already fragile entity. To impose tax increases across all economic make-ups would have major implications for those in lower income groups.

The wealthiest 1 percent of Californians already enjoy the benefits of this society to the fullest extent. To give back now would ultimately benefit them in the future as those in the lower economic classes will have the tools to help bolster the economy.

As it has been seen in other states, providing early education also decreases the chance of those individuals becoming dependent on social welfare programs, which could result in less money being spent in those areas. Although preschool alone does not guarantee that every child will be successful, it does increase the likelihood for an educated and financially independent future generation.