Professional Development with NIEER

When I visit the NIEER website, I spend most of my time in the publications section.  I find myself drawn to the newsletter Hot Topics, videos, and policy briefs all located in the publication section of their website.  NIEER presents many modes of viewing current trends in early childhood, which are relevant to me as a professional in the education field.

One resource that I cannot seem to get out of my mind is the video, Preschool: America’s Best Investment.  In this production, W. Steve Barnett (an economist) talks about the findings from his research of preschool programs in the last twenty years.  Within this media presentation, he talks about how tax supported cost have grown tremendously over these last two decades due to an increase in special education programs, welfare programs, and the criminal justice system (Barnett, 2008).  He continues to relate how investing in young children now can curb that cost in the future with a 16% return on dollars invested in such programs (Barnett, 2008).  He also followed the High Scope study that compared two groups of children from the ages of 3 to 27.  Both groups where from poor families, and were from the same tough neighborhood.  They were treated equally with the exception that one group attended a high quality early education program and the other did not attend any preschool program.  The findings showed that the group who did not attend a program encountered more difficulties during their school years and needed more special services (Barnett, 2008).  By the age of 27, the other group (attended a high quality preschool program) were 80% less to have ever been arrested, earned 59% more, and were three times more likely to own their own home (Barnett, 2008).

The one statistic from the video that I found most interesting was the fact that research substantiates the need for early childhood education for all children.  James Rohr (CEO for PNC Financial Services Group) cited that one half of drop out students are from middle and high income families (Barnett, 2008).  I have always had the distinct impression that over half of drop outs were from low income and poverty families.  Knowing such data exists, can be a boon to the cause for early care and education.  I can picture more support from all levels of people if they know that all children would benefit from education early on.

As I listened to the voices of Barnett and Rohr, I was impressed that individuals from backgrounds other than early childhood were proponents of an organization that does not seem even remotely close to their world of understanding.  It gave me such a good feeling to know that others who are not educators are interested in children.  You may say that it is only because they are interested in the money aspect.  I do not believe that their hearts cannot be touched as they view the world of a child.  That is why I truly believe that it is through the voices of others that our desire for all children to succeed will be recognized.  

Other new insights for me were more reinforcements in others being involved in the early childhood arena.  It gives me confidence as I advocate for children.  That confidence comes from the reality that those not from the early childhood field understand the needs of children and families.

Reference:

Barnett, W. S. (2008). Preschool: America’s best investment.  NIEER (National Institute for Early Education Research). Retrieved from http://nieer.org/docs/index.php?DocID=112