New Report Shows Quality Preschool Requires Quality Teachers

Nov 9th 2009

New Report Shows Quality Preschool Requires Quality Teachers

Peoria Co. Sheriff McCoy, Local Police Chiefs, Concerned that Preschool Cuts Threaten

Quality and Crime Prevention

Peoria, IL -- Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy, Peoria Heights Police Chief Dustin Sutton and Bartonville Police Chief Brian Fengel released a new report called Why a Highly Qualified Preschool Workforce Matters: Crime Prevention and Quality Preschool in Illinois.

They were joined by State Representative Jehan Gordon in visiting a classroom and reading a story to preschool children at Norwood School in Peoria.

"In order to reduce the level of crime in Peoria County, we must use all the tools in our arsenal. High- quality preschool has been shown to dramatically improve the chances that children will grow up to be successful, productive, law-abiding adults," said Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy. "High quality preschool is crime prevention."

The report details research showing that preschool programs are most effective when they meet key quality standards, including highly-trained teachers. Illinois' Preschool for All program requires teachers to have BA degrees and early childhood education certification.

Over the past seven years, Illinois has made great strides in expanding access to quality preschool for families. During that time, expansion of the Preschool for All Program in Peoria County has added over 330 slots for 3-and 4-year olds, increasing the number of children enrolled in state-funded preschool to 1,022.

But this year, state leaders cut the program by 10 percent, and there remain more than 2,200 3- and 4-year-olds in Peoria County families who cannot afford to pay for quality preschool on their own.

"In these tough budget times, Illinois' leaders need to make smart investments with the resources we have," said Peoria Heights Police Chief Dustin Sutton. "When it comes to making our communities safer, ensuring that our kids have the opportunity to attend a high-quality preschool is one of the smartest things we can do."

The Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois report found study after study showing that preschool teachers with formal education, typically a B.A. degree, are more sensitive and skilled in their interactions with children.  These well-educated teachers create a high-quality preschool classroom experience, which children need in order to realize the educational and crime prevention benefits of preschool.

Ensuring there are enough teachers with the right credentials is crucial to reaping the full benefits of preschool. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids claims further cuts to the Preschool for All program will reduce the number of student slots and teacher jobs available, and may slow the steady growth of early childhood teacher education programs at Illinois' colleges and universities.

"Quality preschool has a significant impact on cutting crime. Research clearly shows that highly trained and skilled teachers are best equipped to provide this high-quality educational setting, essential for future success in school and life," said Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois State Director Tim Carpenter. "Policymakers should not cloud the future of our children by chipping away at these wise, quality investments."

Law enforcement's experience and rigorous research supports the crime-prevention value of preschool.  A study of the Perry Preschool in Michigan tracked at-risk children who attended the program and similar children who did not attend.  At age 27, those who did not attend as children were five times more likely to have been arrested for drug felonies and twice as likely to have been arrested for violent crimes.  Another study of the publicly funded Child-Parent Centers in Chicago, which have provided early care and education to more than 100,000 children since 1967, found that kids left out of the program were 70 percent more likely to have been arrested by age 18 than those who participated.

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois is the state office of a national, non-profit bipartisan, anti-crime organization of more than 300 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, leaders of law enforcement organizations, and victims of violence.  Fight Crime: Invest in Kids has over 5000 members nationally.

Click here for the full report

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