IMPACT OF RESEARCH

In Grand Rapids, Michigan over 80% of low income children that qualify for preschool are not currently enrolled.  Research tells us that a quality preschool experience for children living in poverty can result in:

• increased preparedness for kindergarten
• completion of more years of school
• over all increase in life time earnings
• a decrease in teen pregnancies
• a decrease in crime resulting in imprisonment
• less need for remedial services
• an increase of mental health

Grand Rapid's response to this research was the implementation of a state funded preschool program called the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP).  The GSRP assesses a child's risk factors up and above just low income.  Unlike Head Start, GSRP will enroll students living 300% above the poverty line if they qualify under other risk factors.  Some of these risk factors include:

• low birth weight or premature birth
• low academic achievement of parents
• incarcerated parent(s)
• victim of abuse or neglect or in the home of a parent that is a victim of abuse
• experienced the death of a parent or sibling
• diagnosed with a learning disability
• expelled from child care centers or preschool programs due to behavioral challenges
• English Language Learners or English as a Second Language including parents that are not English proficient

However, qualifying preschoolers still do not have access to preschool programs.  In many cases the programs are just not conveniently located to give access to children that do not have transportation.  In response to this need $5 million was donated in 2011 by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to form an organization called Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC) to provide quality preschool programs for children within their neighborhoods (Scott, 2013).  The grant provides funds for the renovation or creation of spaces for preschool programs.  Over 200 spots were created for preschoolers with the renovation or opening of 6 locations within the target neighborhoods.  This is an ongoing project and the numbers continue to grow for children that need access to quality preschool programs.

References

Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.elncgr.org/about_us.html

Scott, M. (2013, June 5). Kindergarten readiness: Vulnerable Grand Rapids neighborhoods targeted for free preschools. InMLive. Retrieved May 23, 2014, from http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/06/kindergarten_readiness_vulnera.html