By Joseph Batory

Nations around the world have a much better understanding than the USA that the most important learning for all human beings occurs between birth and 5 years of age. Children’s brains in those early years are remarkably receptive and transmit and store masses of information instantaneously. It is during these early years when our social, emotional, behavioral and cognitive (intellectual) competencies are developed. More than 85 percent of the foundation for effective communication, problem solving, and critical thinking is developed by age 5.

Most countries internationally have recognized the value of Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) education and are offering versions of Pre-K for all children. But not the USA. Many developed nations around the world now have more than 90 percent enrollment in Pre-K programs, far surpassing the U.S.

And the USA cannot continue to ignore this disturbing reality.

Opportunities for quality Pre-K remain highly unequal across our country, especially for poor children, the ones that would benefit the most from Pre-K schooling.  In wealthy areas of America, parents have figured out the value of Pre-K. On the wealthy east side of Manhattan, these moms and dads have their 3- and 4-year-olds on waiting lists to gain admission to elite pre-school education programs costing five figures annually. In contrast, there are many millions of poverty-level and lower-income parents across our country for whom preschool education of their children is neither practical nor achievable.

A report from CNN affirms that most of our competitor countries are: “Investing more in young children along with those teaching them and basically guaranteeing that their future workers will outcompete the USA. Building walls and raising tariffs won’t give us an edge on the competition; our best weapon is a solid preschool foundation. Quality early learning programs not only give children a strong start in life,  but they also make good economic sense and build a robust workforce. There are high rates of return on public investments in early childhood education because of improvements in not only education but also health, economic productivity and reduced crime.”

Many other research studies have noted the positive impacts of expanding preschool education opportunities for children in our nation. This is certainly not some panacea or “magic wand.” But some of the longitudinal studies – those that have followed children from preschool graduation through adulthood – point to benefits that include a lower likelihood of incarceration, less need for public assistance, longer-lasting marriages, and a lower risk of heart disease. And nearly every study has concluded that children who have attended preschool are more academically and socially prepared for kindergarten than they would have been otherwise.

Numerous economists are also on record noting that early childhood education is a sound public investment because early learning programs for children under 5 years of age can also improve America’s competitiveness in a global economy. The gains come from a more educated workforce that earns higher wages and contributes productively to the economy.

The United States has long had a backwards approach to problem-solving. That’s because our country tends to spend only 15 percent of its available resources on prevention and 85 percent on trying to fix the problem after it occurs. That is the wrong formula economically! It makes much more sense to spend 85 percent on prevention which can save large amounts of money that would no longer be needed to try to remedy massive problems.

Another prime example of this major failing in the USA is that unlike almost all other advanced countries of the world, our nation does not have universal health care.  The cost of this lack of a preventative medical approach in the USA is multi-millions of dollars annually in expenditures to treat serious illnesses and sicknesses that need not have evolved.  Added to this is the tragedy of deaths which also might not have occurred. 

It is time to put divisive politics aside in the USA and awaken from their slumber and do more to increase Pre-K educational opportunities and provide universal health care thereby improving not only our workforce and economy but our society as well.

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Joseph Batory is the author of three books and has been widely published with 250+ articles about politics, history and education.