A top education official said yesterday that early childhood education is a clear priority of the state as reflected in increased funding of a statewide pilot Universal Pre-Kindergarten program.
Amy A. Kershaw, acting commissioner of the state Department of Early Education and Care, spoke of the efforts to provide quality early education during a tour at the Square One center on King Street, one of the pilot program participants.
"We have more than a decade of research that demonstrates the importance of early childhood education for later school and life success," Kershaw said.
The pilot program is designed to promote universally accessible, high quality early education, she said.
The pilot program was funded at $7.1 million this year, serving 220 programs statewide. A $5 million increase in funds is supported by the Legislature and Gov. Deval L. Patrick for the new fiscal year, beginning July 1, Kershaw said, and Patrick had initially sought a much higher amount.
Joan B. Kagan, president and chief executive officer of Square One, said the grant assistance from the state, which began this year, will allow the center to expand quality programs and services. Kagan said that providing high quality programs for children is most important in the first five years of their lives when their greatest development occurs.
Others taking part in the tour included: Julie P. Culhane, of Northampton, and L. Orlando Isaza, of Holyoke, both local members of the state Board of Early Education and Care; and Sally C. Fuller, project director of Cherish Every Child, an initiative of the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation of Springfield.
The program is intended to improve the quality of services and expand access, emphasizing a private-public collaboration, Kershaw and Kagan said.
Kershaw said universal prekindergarten is a means of "school readiness for children.
"Today I was able to see that in action," he said. "Children are working together to solve problems, and interacting in a positive way with their teachers. And these are the skills that children will need to succeed in school and life."
"It's terrific to see, meaningful to see our policy translated in the classroom," she said.