Kindergarteners Report Advantage

Of Preschool Education

HARTFORD — Children with two years of preschool dramatically surpass their peers who do not attend preschool in literacy and language, math, social/emotional and fine motor skills, according to a recent statewide survey of 400 kindergarten teachers.

The survey rated 3,295 children on selected skills to determine how many children enter kindergarten-ready in state districts.

“These findings come at a crucial time when state leaders are deciding how much to invest in school readiness, and whether to expand school readiness programs for the 18,000 low-income children waiting for preschool openings,” said Commission on Children Executive Director Elaine Zimmerman. “Clearly, two years of quality preschool for the children most in need is a worthy investment.”

“It is critical that children have strong reading skills by the end of third grade,” said Joe McGee, vice president of Public Policy of the Southwestern Area Commerce & Industry Association of Connecticut (SACIA). “By having two years of preliteracy and language skills, they get a terrific start toward more formal reading instruction.”

Added John Rathgeber, executive vice president of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), “These findings on preschool success are critical to business because, to be competitive in the global marketplace, we have to improve educational outcomes and narrow the achievement gap.”