A recent article in The Greenville News titled "Education failings still holding state back" suggested that South Carolina's high school graduation rate of 60.1 percent was holding back the economic competitiveness of our work force. I suspect that most South Carolinians would agree that the educational level of our citizenry is impacting our overall opportunities for economic development. However, the implication that this is due to the failings of our education system is misdirected and counter to the research that exists on this topic.
For example, a 2005 Standard and Poor's School Evaluation Services study investigating student achievement in comparison to the level of poverty in each of the 50 states found that South Carolina was one of 11 states that "outperformed the rest of the country in either the fourth or eighth grade."
There is a direct linkage among poverty, childhood experiences and school readiness. Further, we know that the first years (birth-4 years) of a young person's life are the most critical for cognitive functioning, physical health, and behavioral, social and self-regulatory capacities. Since South Carolina has one of the highest poverty levels in the United States, we need to address the preschool development of our young citizens if we are to become economically competitive as a state. The experiences and opportunities young people have before entering the classroom have the greatest impact on what is possible inside the classroom.
So, what efforts will have the most long-term and sustainable impact on the well-being of South Carolina and its citizenry? I would suggest that we, as a state, create a comprehensive community-based early childhood development system with a strong parental/guardian support component that is available to everyone.
Many have suggested that offering pre-4 and even pre-3 kindergarten programs is the solution to our early childhood development needs. These services would be valuable, but they are not sufficient. They are being encouraged because many young citizens are not living in enriching home environments. A more effective approach would be to work directly with the parents and guardians of our young citizens.
By providing these parents and caregivers with the necessary support, knowledge and resources, they could in turn provide their children the rich learning environments needed before entering the formal education system. Only offering pre-3 and pre-4 kindergartens does little to empower parents and other caregivers, nor does this strategy address the root issues surrounding pre-school readiness.
A community-based early childhood development system is feasible and necessary to overcome the circumstances facing many young citizens in South Carolina. This type of system does not suggest that any one professional group, such as educators, is expected to meet all the early childhood needs in a community; rather it distributes the responsibility among all of us (parents and other caregivers, child and youth professionals, educators, corporate South Carolina and the general community). It will take the resources, expertise and motivation of all stakeholders in a community to resolve this situation.
There are many fine programs in the state addressing early childhood development needs, but none are sufficient within themselves to meet the needs statewide. Further, there is insufficient collaboration across programs to realize the benefits we're seeking as a state. Other states are building effective coalitions for early childhood development where strong collaborative efforts have been established among the various constituent groups. We can build the same system in South Carolina.
The data are clear on the cost/benefit of such systems. Direct benefits range from $3 to $7 for every dollar invested in early childhood development. These numbers only speak to the savings resulting from the reduction of public assistance services; they do not highlight the total long-term economic return with estimates up to $17 for every dollar invested. We could put all of these cost savings to other good uses in the state.
Unfortunately, early childhood development has not been viewed as an economic catalyst, and therefore, the public discourse of the strategic impact of early childhood programs on our economic growth has been limited. Until the general public understands the lifetime benefits of a comprehensive and coordinated early childhood development system, we will continue to have a "minimally adequate" and otherwise piecemeal approach that is underfunded, disjointed and not of the quality to achieve the outcomes we desire.
I know that we are all interested in improving the well-being of every citizen in South Carolina and in improving the economic competitiveness of our state. Further, we all want our tax dollars to be invested where they will have the greatest return. Clearly, a comprehensive early childhood development system, involving a coalition of partners, has great potential as a long-term and sustainable economic development strategy that raises the standard of living for everyone.