The Importance of Preschool in Closing The Achievement Gap

Researchers Robert Slaby of San Jose University, Sharon Loucks of Salinas City School District, and Patricia Stelwagon of San Jose State University compiled a conclusive theory from various studies and statistics that concludes preschool is the most essential and important factor to closing the achievement gap. From their findings and studies, preschool alone does not only set students up for success, but it also aids in closing the achievement gap for students from economically disadvantaged situations and ending poverty: the ultimate goal of this study. The purpose of preschool is to offer a safe, enriched, and open minded environment for children to boost their learning and understanding from children of all backgrounds and walks of life. Statistics and variables are weighed in regards to quantitative and qualitative benefits that preschool offers to students. Variables in this study include mainly age and ethnic background. Secondly, determined variables from researchers included looking into the quality of the teachers of the preschool students were attending. Furthermore, significant benefits are acquired such as children having significantly lowers chances of falling into the pipeline to prison, being on government assistance, having long periods of unemployment, dropping out of school, or being placed in RTI. This study also mentions significantly boosted advantages such as preschool students having higher chances in going to college, social & academic success, and succeeding in their personal and professional lives. All of these benefits are strongly linked to a children simply attending a high-quality preschool; these conclusions were successfully drawn from approximately a 5 year study in Salinas, California during 1999 to 2005. In this study variables such as the classroom size, background of students, and quality of teachers are weighed in as well as two control groups. The first control group involved students in poverty who did not attend preschool, and the second control group consisted of all students who did not attend preschool regardless of class and their economic stance. Both groups are followed up until 2nd and 3rd grade in which they are tested in academics and social ability as well as behavior. Considering the study is based in Texas, students are largely from a South American background who happen to come from severely poor areas. The study strongly indicates and provides evidence as to how and why the students who attended preschool achieved much more than the students who did not: in the retrospect of their success in their academics, social mobility, and behavior.

How all of this was found one may ask: the majority of these findings and statistics were specifically discovered because of Robert Slaby’s actions. Robert Slaby, an educational superintendent had went to one school and made them place a preschool program. This resulted in positively affected the district which led eight other schools in the district to implement a preschool program. The following five years employed many positive results in the improvement of educational achievement from their students. The second step in this process was to maximize a competent, achievable, and high-quality curriculum for all students. The third step includes preschool practitioners to find as many investors and financial pedestals as possible. What continues after this effective study are the strenuous, but much needed steps in order to instill a structured and financially guarded preschool to close the achievement gap and educate as many children as possible.

In all reality, there are always some children who fall through the cracks, have statistics that do not apply to them and whatever the reason may be; Robert Slaby strongly believes that implementing preschool will change all of it for the most part. His first step was placing it to begin with, and then other smaller steps such as bettering the quality of education, reducing classroom sizes, and so on. Through these aforementioned steps in the study, there is hope for high-quality and affordable education. The achievement gap may be difficult to close and take time, but through these findings there is hope and data to work around in other to build a stronger education system. According to professionals, researchers, and Robert Slaby himself, the implementation of preschool alone appears to be one of the best approaches and methods into achieving the goal to closing the achievement gap.