Graduate Center for the Study of Early Learning

The University of Mississippi School of Education

State’s Failure to Support Early Childhood Education Has Far Reaching Consequences

Posted on: June 3rd, 2019 by Cathy Grace

The impact of children attending high quality early care and education programs has been studied through several lenses. Looking at longitudinal data collected over 50 years on individuals that attended a high quality pre-school program in North Carolina and others who attended a program in Ypsilanti, Michigan, all data indicate the programs had a positive impact on life trajectory when compared to the adult outcomes of peers who did not attend a quality program. In addition, we now have the benefit of scientific evidence on how the brain develops and what it needs to show healthy growth. 

In the midst of Memorial Day I was drawn to a report by Mission Readiness, a group of retired admirals and generals who believe that strengthening national security starts by ensuring kids stay in school, stay fit, and stay out of trouble. The report, Unhealthy and Unprepared, supports the need for strong early childhood education in the country. The report reveals 76% of 17-24 year- olds in Mississippi are not eligible to enlist in the military due to obesity, a lack of education and/or a history of crime or drug use. Nationally the percentage is 71% of 17-24 year-olds who do not qualify. The reasons listed in the report that are keeping our young people out of the military are some of the same issues high quality early childhood education has shown to combat when the participants were studied over the life span. This is a national crisis!

If you ask a Mississippian if they would fight for our country, should it be attacked, I am venturing a guess that the overwhelming majority would answer yes, regardless of age, even if they were not physically able. Why then, as a state of highly patriotic individuals, would we not want to secure the safety of our state as well as our country by investing in our young people at the most important time in their development? The time between funding a high quality early childhood program and increasing the number and quality of our armed service members is short, much shorter than most believe. It is a matter of national security, just ask Mission Readiness.

by Dr. Cathy Grace