Let's invest in early childhood education

My message is simple: It's never too early to invest in a child, no matter the nation's economic struggles.

The most cost-effective and successful way to close the achievement gap is through early intervention and childhood education.

It's the right thing to do and it's the economically prudent thing to do.

As someone who has spent an entire career in the field of early childhood education, I have seen that quality early childhood education during the first five years of a child's life creates a critical foundation for academic achievement.

For 23 years, I have worked for Children's Home and Aid and its early childhood care and education programs targeting at-risk families in Chicago and the suburbs.

I have found that children born in high-risk environments (defined by low income, young parental age, and low maternal education) face significant barriers to healthy development and learning.

If these deficits are not addressed, these children will face a lifetime of obstacles that will lead to poor academic performance.

Children's Home and Aid has partnered with doctors Craig and Sharon Ramey (Georgetown University) to implement the findings of their 30 years of groundbreaking research in child development.

All children are born with the same potential to become successful learners. Almost all healthy children test at the same developmental range up to age one.

After that, significant differentials begin to appear in developmental tests, with children from high-risk backgrounds showing developmental deficits.

Ameliorating these deficits, or preventing them in the first place, remains our mission.

Karen Selman

Vice President

Children's Home and Aid Society

Barrington Hills