Parents support early schooling
The Republican, Article by Peter Goonan, December 3, 2008

SPRINGFIELD - A survey of parents in Springfield and Holyoke has found that more than 80 percent are interested in enrolling their young children in high-quality, early education programs in line with statewide goals.

About 60 early education providers, advocates, and state officials met on Tuesday at the Community Music School on State Street to discuss the newly released study, commissioned by the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation's Cherish Every Child Initiative. The survey was conducted by Opinion Dynamics Corp., based in Waltham.

Its results demonstrated that 83 percent of Springfield parents and 77 percent of Holyoke parents are interested in enrolling their children in a high-quality, affordable universal pre-kindergarten program being pursued by the state.

It is known that children in high-quality early education programs go into school "better ready, better able to learn, and more excited," said state Rep. Patricia A. Haddad, D-Somerset, who spoke before the gathering and is the House chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Education.

"My colleagues and I see this as a real opportunity to advance Massachusetts," she said.

She urged the advocates and their partners and parents to lobby legislators to maintain or increase funding for early education efforts, although acknowledging that the task is difficult because of economic hardships and a worsening state budget outlook. The state allocated about $12 million for a statewide pilot universal pre-kindergarten program this year.

Haddad said there is no way the state can afford a free program for everyone, but it believes that a "sliding scale" program could work that is high quality and affordable.

Key findings in the survey included:

Springfield and Holyoke children are much less likely to receive non-family early education and care than children statewide. Specifically, 53 percent of Springfield's children under the age of 7, and 58 percent of Holyoke's children are cared for exclusively by family members, in contrast to 8 percent of young children statewide found in a 2006 survey.

Parents using early education and care are largely satisfied, but see significant room for improvement in the areas of safety, convenience of hours, and curricular quality.

Interest in universal pre-kindergarten is high: fully 90 percent of Springfield families not using non-family care-givers would be likely to use a free program, while 78 percent would be likely to use it at $10 a day.

The survey involved telephone interviews, randomly selecting 300 "care-givers" in Springfield with children under the age of 7, and 100 care-givers in Holyoke, according to Opinion Dynamics Vice President Christopher Anderson.

Mary E. Walachy, executive director of the Davis Foundation, said the survey results speak for themselves.

"Now, more than ever, we must work with Governor Patrick and our state Legislature to realize the promise of universal, high-quality early education for all," she said.

Sally C. Fuller, director of the Cherish Every Child Program, said the importance of early education, either in formal programs or at home, must be communicated to parents.