Smart Start and More at Four Needed to Reduce Dropout Rate
Increase investments in early education, says a group of more than 80 leading business people, educators and elected officials who participated in a year-long study group organized by the Public School Forum of North Carolina. Study group members were charged with envisioning and recommending a systems approach in two very broad areas – personnel policies impacting teachers and school administrators and reducing today’s dropout rate.
Specifically, the report identifies the following goal: By 2018, 100% of North Carolina’s children who are identified as at-risk will be served by Smart Start and/or More at Four; by 2020, North Carolina’s graduation rate will have reached 90%
The State’s investment in early education must be increased. The State’s two early-education programs have become models for states across the country. Smart Start which focuses on at-risk young people and their families served 117,000 young children in 2008-09. It focuses the resources of the State on insuring that at-risk youth get off to a healthy and supported start. More at Four worked with over 31,000 four-year olds with a mission of getting at-risk youngsters off to a solid academic start when they enter schools. The focus of the programs vary. While the numbers of children served are impressive they are threatened with budget cuts and thousands more are eligible for service but not receiving it. Recent studies validate the benefits of the programs. Both should be maintained and grow over time.
The authors note that their proposals are ambitious, and they address potential critics head on. “To them, we have a very simple answer. Our kids aren’t waiting for the economy to turn around. And we can’t wait either.”
Download the report.
Read some of the press.
