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Preschool Definition
Preschool is an early childhood program in which children
combine learning with play in a program run by professionally trained
adults. Children are most commonly enrolled in preschool between the ages of
three and five, though those as young as two can attend some schools.
Preschools are different from traditional day care in that their
emphasis is learning and development rather than enabling parents to work or
pursue other activities.
Description
Before 1960, the education of young children was primarily
regarded as the responsibility of families within the home. As of 2004, most
young children in the
United States spend
some portion of their days apart from their parents. Most attend some sort of
center-based program prior to kindergarten. In 2001, 52 percent of three- and
four-year-olds were in a nursery school or preschool program. The enrollment
rate for four-year-olds in 2001 was nearly the same as the enrollment rate for
five-year-olds in 1970. There are several factors influencing this dramatic
change, including a rise in the numbers of mothers working outside the home, a
decline in the size of families (leading more parents to turn to preschools as
a social outlet for their children), and a growing desire to give children a
head start academically. The higher the income and educational level of the
parents, the more likely it is that a child will attend preschool. This
correlation remains true in spite of increasing governmental support for
programs targeting children in low-income households.
In addition to being called preschool, these programs are
known by other names, including child care, day care, and nursery school. They
vary widely in their setting, format, and educational philosophy. Preschools
may meet all-day or half-day, either every day or just a few days per week.
They may be sponsored by a church, operate as an independent non-profit, or run
for profit. They may be part of the public school system or part of the Federal
Head Start program.
Types of preschool programs
PRIVATE PRESCHOOLS
Private preschools operate as for-profits, independent
nonprofits, and programs sponsored by religious organizations. Most are
part-day programs. Some so-called lower schools are affiliated with private
schools and maintain an educational philosophy in accord with the parent
institution. Though the margin is small, private preschools still claimed the
majority of total preschool enrollment in 2001. The educational quality of
private preschools varies from program to program. Regulation is primarily by
state child care agencies, but the arrangement varies from state to state.
HEAD START
Since 1965, the federal Head Start program has provided free
education for young children in many low-income families across the United
States. In 2000, Head Start served 11 percent of all three- and four-year olds
in the United States. In 2001, Head Start reported enrollment of over 900,000
children, at a cost of roughly $7,000 per child. Head Start programs are
available in all 50 states and are offered in a variety of formats, including
both all-day and half-day programs. Some of them are held at the public school
the child will eventually attend.
Since its inception, there has been debate about Head
Start's effectiveness. Research has shown that children enrolled in Head Start
enjoy immediate, measurable gains in cognitive test scores; however,
researchers disagree as to the long-term impact. Some research has shown that
Head Start has long-term effects on academic ability and success that do not
fade over time. These effects include: persistent gains in achievement test
scores, fewer occurrences of grade retention, and less placement in special
education programs. Other long-term benefits include higher high school
graduation rates and decreased crime and delinquency rates. As adults, Head
Start graduates are more likely to get better jobs and earn more money. On the
other hand, some experts believe the research shows that disadvantaged children
in Head Start start off a step behind and never catch up. One of the primary
concerns about the program is with its teachers, who only subsequently were
required to have a two-year degree and who made less than half the average
salary of a public school teacher. To help determine Head Start's
effectiveness, a research project called The National Head Start Impact Study
was underway as of 2004. It intends to follow between 5,000 to 6,000 preschool
aged children through 2006 to determine if Head Start is effective and how Head
Start works best for children.
PUBLIC PRESCHOOLS
A growing number of states have started to fund preschool
programs offered at public schools, called pre-kindergarten (or pre-K)
programs. They may be administered by the local school board or by an
independent contractor paid by the state. Like private preschools, they may
operate for a full day or just half a day.
Most state-run preschool programs began like Head Start and
focused their services on children with the greatest needs, either children
with disabilities or children from low-income families. Most states in the
early 2000s choose to have their prekindergarten programs serve children in
low-income families or children who have other risk factors that place them at
greater risk of school failure or educational difficulties. These risk factors
may include having a disability, being a child of teen parents, or having
limited proficiency in the English language.
Georgia was
the first state to have a universally available pre-K program, which was
started in 1995. It is still the only state to make preschool available to all
students. Other states, including
West Virginia and
Florida, are making
long-term plans to move toward universal prekindergarten.
Research tends to find that public preschool programs
(public schools and Head Start) exhibit a greater effect on children than do
private preschools. One of the reasons is public school programs provide the
same quality of services whether children are rich or poor, while private
provider quality is lower for children from lower-income families. It may be an
issue of getting what a parent can pay for. Most of the long-term research on
the effects of preschool focuses on low-income children. There is very little
data on any long-term benefits for middle-class children.
Qualities of a good
preschool
According to the National Institute for Early Education
Research, the types of teaching activities and classroom emphases that
contribute to a high-quality early education for children include the
following:
opportunities to learn persistence when working at tasks,
direction following, and good listening skills
focus on language and literacy skills, as well as
interactive book reading
emphasis on teaching children problem-solving skills
helping children expand their knowledge and increase their
vocabulary
opportunities to learn beginning skills involving the
alphabet, numbers, and spatial awareness
focus on scientific thinking skills as well as information
about the everyday environment, the world, and how things work
emphasis on teaching early literacy and mathematics through
a variety of activities and projects
opportunity for preschoolers to engage in music, art, and
dramatic play
educational program in which parents are involved and have
opportunities to watch and take part in classroom activities
Advantages of
preschool
Many children who attend high-quality preschool programs
have their lives changed for the better. In the first five years of life,
children acquire the basic capabilities that prepare them for later success in
school and life. Many studies show that high-quality preschools improve
achievement, behavior, and school readiness for economically disadvantaged
children. Follow-up research with these same children shows that they earn more
money, experience more stable home lives, and become more responsible citizens
than they would have if they had not attended preschool. Children who attend
preschool are better prepared to enter kindergarten, both academically and
socially. Whatever their format, preschools offer parents and children typical
benefits. A good program can help children develop their gross and fine
motor skills , improve their language and communication abilities, and
exercise their creativity .
Disadvantages of
preschool
The greatest academic and social progress seen in preschools
is in children from deprived backgrounds. However, few programs have the
quality necessary to bring about the benefits promised. The costs of a
high-quality program can be far greater than the costs of education at some
public universities. Most children in preschool, however, are not
disadvantaged, and some researchers believe the same gains can be had at home
by providing educational toys , games and books for the child. In
some preschools, the emphasis on groups might mean that children will not
receive the individual attention they require. This is a particular risk if the
preschool does not follow the National Association for the Education of Young
Children's recommended teacher-to-child ratio of no more than ten preschoolers
per staff member. One-on-one instruction is an advantage parents will not
likely find in any preschool. Opportunities for playing with other children
exist in churches, clubs, and other outlets, where the child can learn social
skills. Some believe that what children need most is lots of play and free time
and close interaction with their parents, something that may be compromised if
the child is away from home for long periods of time. Another disadvantage is
that some children experience acute separation anxiety , indicating
that they are not yet ready to make the transition to the preschool
environment. Many programs also expect the child to be toilet-trained, a
milestone that not all children have achieved at the preschool age.
Common problems
When selecting a preschool for their child, parents should
be aware of certain problems or warning signs that might make them decide to
look at a different preschool provider. These problems or warning signs may
include:
- negative reactions from other parents
- inattention to established rules and regulations (Schools
should have clearly established written guidelines for everything from
operating hours to managing emergencies.)
- lack of a sick-child policy (The preschool should require
both staff and children to have current immunizations and regular checkups.)
- indicating they are hiding something, schools that balk at
parents dropping by unannounced
- schools that either have no structure whatsoever or a
structure that is inflexible
- lack of age-appropriate activities and toys
- an underqualified staff
- large class sizes
- dirty, unsafe facilities
- an expired license
- schools that promise to put a child on an academic fast
track (These highly structured, intensive preschool academic programs create
inappropriate expectations from children and may cause emotional stress.)
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