Guest blog: Steven Baule, Superintendent of the Muncie Community Schools in Muncie, Indiana: There is a large amount of research that suggests waiting until kindergarten for children to begin formal learning isn’t early enough. According to current trends in brain development and neurological research, 90% of brain development occurs before the age of five. Some resources include The Urban Child Institute, First5 California, and the US Department of Education. Local data for your community can be gathered through theKidsCount Data Center and by some regional organizations. There is also an economic argument in favor of pre-school education. The National Institute for Early Learning Research has done a great deal of work on documenting the positive economic impact of early learning on communities. In Indiana, according to the Indiana Early Learning Consortium, the state spends $20 million annually on kindergarten remediation, but only $10 million on early childhood education. There are a number of organizations trying to put together stronger networks to support young families. Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child is one example. What can your school do to help support children even before they enter kindergarten?
