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WHAT IS PRE-KINDERGARTEN?
Pre-kindergarten provides an age-appropriate
learning environment that helps children three to five develop the
social, emotional, intellectual and language skills they will need
in the classroom.
WHY IS PRE-KINDERGARTEN IMPORTANT?
By the time a child reaches kindergarten, 85
percent of the core brain structure is already formed. So helping
children at age three or four is none too soon.
HOW CAN WE ESTABLISH PUBLICLY FUNDED PRE-KINDERGARTEN
IN KANSAS?
Expanding the reach of publicly funded pre-k
programs to underserved rural communities will ensure that every
Kansas child has the opportunity to develop the cognitive, social
and emotional skills they need.
In 2007, the Legislature dedicated $1.6 million in
new funding for the Kansas Early Head Start program to help expand
the program’s
reach. This is a significant stride, but work must continue to
ensure all Kansas children have access to publicly-funded pre-kindergarten.
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Pre-k results
in Oklahoma |
| Oklahoma is a national
leader as one of the few states to provide universal preschool
for all the state’s 4- year-olds whose parents wish them
to attend. Regardless of family income children who attend
Oklahoma’s pre-k program show greater gains in reading
and math achievement than their peers who did not participate
in the program. |
Research
shows sharing books —
along with singing, rhyming, drawing and storytelling —
promotes language skills as well as motor development, memory,
attention span and a child’s social and emotional development.
Visit the Kansas
Health Foundation’s website for great ideas of
activities you can share with a young child.
LEARN
MORE > |
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