Back to School!

*Pre-Schoolers at The Children's Corner in Rome*

Back to school time reminds us of our own school days. Be it learning how to socialize, play time and learning how to share, or learning how to study, most of us enjoyed the benefits of preschool and kindergarten. Sadly, challenges in today's world (economy, teen pregnancy, unstable homes, etc.) make preschool and adequately preparing children for kindergarten seemingly impossible for some families. The impact of early education on children's lives is undeniable; studies have shown that the early years (ages 0-3 years) are the most important educational years of a child's life.

Through its literacy work in Herkimer and Oneida counties this point has become obvious to The Community Foundation. It is even more obvious that we as a community are unhappy with the results in education that we're seeing, both locally with the recent disappointing school report cards, and nationally, by seeking such alternatives as the charter school movement. Even our federal government has recognized that replicating models of high-impact, successful programs with an early childhood component is the way to turn around American schools, but often funding and community attention is directed to K-12 programs, leaving early education as a secondary priority.

Since 2008, donor-advisors of The Foundation have granted $362,858 to educational institutions. Looking closer at where the money is going you see that: $3,850 or 1%, went to early childhood education; $47,000 or 13%, to school districts (K-12); $273,140 or 75%, to higher education (colleges and universities;) and $38,868 or 11%, to public libraries.

While The Community Foundation encourages giving to any educational institution that you deem important, perhaps the next time you make an education grant recommendation, you will also consider an additional grant for an early childhood program.

Across the country early education institutions are getting the short end of the funding, yet enrollment in local pre-kindergarten programs has been on a steady rise since 2000. The good news is that both Herkimer and Oneida counties are above the New York State average for percent of pre-kindergarten participants (source: www.hocindicators.org).

To really begin the school year on the right foot, start with the smallest beneficiaries so they can grow to their full potential. Past Foundation grantees that work closely with early education include: Thea Bowman House, Kinderwood Program and Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency/Head Start program. Also, the Literacy Coalition of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, a cohort of organizations through which The Community Foundation partners for its literacy work, has an early childhood component.

If you would like more information on any of these programs, or to find an early education program to grant to in your area, please contact the Program Department at 735-8212.