The importance of reading by 3rd grade 

The numbers tell a grim story.

16% of children who don't read proficiently by third grade won't graduate from high school on time -- 4 times higher than the rate for proficient readers.

26% of children who don't read by third grade AND live in poverty for at least one year won't graduate on time.

The data comes from a new Annie E. Casey Foundation report, Double Jeopardy: How Third-Grade Reading Skills and Poverty Influence High School Graduation.  Researchers followed 4,000 students over time in the first national study of its kind. 

How many Michigan children are in double jeopardy?  Too many.  According to Kids Count, only 3 out of every 10 fourth graders in Michigan can read proficiently, ranking Michigan 34th among the 50 states. 27% of all young children in Michigan live in poverty.  In Kent County, the poverty rate is 25% for all young children and more than 50% for children of color.     

The report calls third grade an "important pivot point" in a child's education, explaining it's "when students shift from learning to read and begin reading to learn.  Interventions for struggling readers after third grade are seldom as effective as those in the early years."   

Research clearly shows that quality early childhood programs--beginning with parenting education before babies are even born--are critical to preparing children to be successful readers and successful students.   

"High-quality early education is a cost effective investment for improving both early and later school success, particularly for students in low-income families and for Black and Hispanic children," Double Jeopardy reads.  The report also points to the importance of linking high-quality preschool with elementary grades, "to create a common structure and coherent sets of academic and social goals."   

Click on the link to read the Double Jeopardy report, as well as other national research related to early childhood. 

Effective prevention program threatened by budget cuts

Recognizing the significant budget challenges the state faces, the message from First Steps and early childhood advocates across Michigan is to "hold harmless" funding that supports the health, development and early education of young children.  Investing in quality early childhood programs is an effective use  of limited state resources.

While Governor Snyder's budget proposal preserves most state-funded early childhood programming, there are some cuts.  For instance, his plan eliminates funding for 0-3 Secondary Prevention services.  The program has proven effective in preventing child abuse and neglect and improving access to preventive health care--and it saves the state money.  According to the Michigan Children's Trust Fund, an estimated $6 is saved for every $1 invested in 0-3 Secondary Prevention services.

In Kent County, 0-3 Secondary Prevention funding allows 250 families to participate in the evidence-based home visiting program Healthy Start.  Please click on the link to learn more about the 0-3 Secondary Prevention program and how it is working in our community.       

5th Annual Star Power is May 19
A great opportunity to talk to state lawmakers about the importance of investing in early childhood!   

Star Power is Thursday, May 19 beginning at 9:30 a.m. on the Capitol lawn in Lansing.  Thousands of early childhood advocates--including parents and young children--will gather to meet with legislators, celebrate early childhood initiatives,  

and enjoy fun family activities.

Please click on the link to register for Star Power 2011. The Great Start Parent Coalition of Kent County will take a charter bus to Lansing for Star Power.  People interested in riding the bus free of charge should call 632-1007, in addition to registering at the link above.

The Time is Now!

First Steps receives CCL award 

Early Learning at the Public Libraries

The old image of the library as a quiet place couldn't be further from the truth--at least if you're in the children's section.  That's where you'll hear little ones singing and dancing to their favorite preschool music.  You'll find them retelling classic tales with finger plays.  And you may even see them using play food to recreate a farmers market or toy animals to build their own zoo.

"It's very interactive.  We want families to stay and play for awhile," explained Cheryl Garrison, Assistant Director of Kent District Library (KDL).  "It's not just coming to the library to have your children entertained.  Young children and their parents and caregivers are learning important early literacy skills."

Kent District Library and Grand Rapids Public Library (GRPL) offer a series of FREE programs for young children, starting in infancy.  Early childhood is a high priority for both library systems, taking their lead from the American Library Association's Every Child Ready to Read initiative.  Each library branch offers regular story times--full of music, movement and play--geared for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. 

"The library has an important role to play in helping people develop a love of reading and become lifelong learners," Julie Beukema, Youth Services Librarian, at GRPL, said.  "This is the foundation for it; this is the beginning."

In addition to their year-round early childhood programming, both library systems have a number of special events.  GRPL recently brought in well-known children's author Marc Brown--creator of the beloved character Arthur--to talk with young children.  KDL offers a series of training sessions for parents and child care providers called "Early Childhood Essentials."  Topics range from identifying speech delays to coping with stress in parenting.  There's also a traveling training program, that provides on-site education to parent groups.   

"Parents don't always know how much brain development occurs between ages 0-5.  Libraries can help equip parents and caregivers with the skills they need to nurture their child's development," Garrison said.

Added Beukema, "When children are five years old and get to kindergarten, it's too late to start focusing on literacy and language.  Many parents may not realize that, and we can help them understand that."

The library systems worked with First Steps to create a list of great books to read with young children at different developmental stages, from infancy to kindergarten.  Click on the links for the suggested reading list and for a calendar featuring learning activities for young children. 

The following links provide more information about early childhood programming at the libraries:

Kent District Library 

Grand Rapids Public Library