KROX has received another letter to the editor on the possible closure of Washington School and the cutting of the three-year-old preschool. The letter is below. Also if you have a Letter to the Editor, email it to us at kroxnews@gmail.com.
To the Editor,
I am writing in support of the preschool program at Washington School. As a parent of a child currently enrolled in the preschool 3-year-old program at Washington School, I can attest to the value of the program to both my family and the community. Over the past year she has gained essential skills to her success in kindergarten and academic career. This includes socialization with her peers, life skills, and the foundation of reading/writing/mathematics. The neuroplasticity of this age group is the reason early intervention is so important and impactful. In no other period in a child’s life do you have as great an opportunity to improve academic outcomes and redirect the trajectory of a student’s future. I have witnessed this personally with my special needs daughter. In the short course of 8 months, she has been able to demonstrate a profound expansion of verbal communication, sentence formation, and even reading. None of which was achievable with private speech, community functions, and occupational services. This is not about childcare. Preschool is essential education to lifelong student success.
Literature review consistently demonstrates high return of investment for preschool programs and early intervention. Investment return is higher academic achievement, higher income potential, yielding higher tax revenue, reduced crime rate, increased high school graduation rates, and higher completion of college education. Early education continues to be strategy by communities to encourage growth and economic success.
I hope that the Crookston School Board is committed to the future of the children of Crookston. I am sure that there are other programs where funding can be reallocated to meet the fiscal demands of the school district without sacrificing the academic success of the children. Washington School and its teachers have been a blessing to our family, and I hope we can continue to deliver the same quality of education to future generations.
Sincerely,
Candice Olson