By Michelle Hutchins, County Superintendent of Schools

You may have heard that during the first five years of life our brains develop more and faster than at any other time, so it’s easy to understand why preschool is such an essential opportunity to shape a child’s future. It is also a chance to shape society at-large.

Studies show children enrolled in quality early education settings such as state-funded preschools are 50 percent less likely to require special education and 29 percent more likely to graduate from high school. They are also 50 percent less likely to become teen parents and a staggering 70 percent less likely to be arrested for a violent crime before the age of 18.

The statistics go on and on. Children enrolled in high-quality preschool are also more likely to be employed and earn salaries that are 33 percent higher than average. And according to the First Five Years Fund (ffyf.org), they experience lower rates of incarceration (46 percent reduction), lower rates of arrest for violent crimes (33 percent reduction), and are less likely to have received government assistance (26 percent reduction).

Research shows that for every dollar invested in high-quality early childhood education, society gains up to $7.30 in economic returns over the long-term.

In Mendocino County, we have 16 state-funded preschools at 10 different school districts where we help more than 400 preschoolers develop social, emotional, and academic skills. State preschools are a wonderful way for young children to begin their academic careers, in part because the teacher-to-student ratio is so low (1:8), which allows students to get more individual attention.

In addition to state-funded preschools, there are also several local federally funded Head Start preschools administered by North Coast Opportunities. Both state-funded and federally funded preschools have income-eligibility requirements. In 2019, state preschools accepted families of four with household incomes of up to $6719 per month (or about $80,000 per year). However, the income cap for Head Start for a family of four was $25,750. Currently, there is a movement to adjust this federal limit based on regional salary discrepancies through the Head Start Modernization Act. Without it, it’ll be increasingly difficult to find any California families who qualify.

To the untrained observer, a preschool classroom may seem like barely contained chaos, when in fact, the activities led by the teachers, who are early education specialists, use evidence-based methods that effectively prepare children for school and for life. Preschool teachers help students learn problem-solving, how to get along with others, and self-regulation. And by focusing on topics of interest to the students, more of the lessons remain in the students’ long-term memory banks.

Not only do students benefit from lessons and social interactions, those with developmental delays are often identified early. Our lead preschool teachers, all of whom have Childhood Development Permits, have experience that helps them determine when children may need additional support with cognitive, behavioral, or physical skills. Identifying and addressing problems early reduces the impact they have on a child’s development and ability to learn.

Led by Kristin Hills, the Mendocino County Office of Education is responsible for supporting and overseeing local state-funded preschools. We provide resources, like registering students for free books through the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and we coordinate learning communities with early education specialists in local districts so teachers can collaborate and share best practices. Four of the preschools specialize in integrating students with special needs and most of our schools have at least one teacher who is bilingual in English and Spanish.

In addition to the state preschool located in Ukiah on our MCOE campus at 2240 Old River Road, there are preschools all over the county, both coastal and inland and in some of the most rural and remote areas. To find a preschool near you, visit www.mcoe.us and click on the Schools & Districts menu or call your local school district. In the meantime, the best thing parents can do to prepare their children for school in the first five years is to talk, read, and sing to them. Learn more at www.ed.gov/early-learning/talk-read-sing.