For many years the U.S. has watched as we lose ground in education. According to a report released by the U.S. Department of Education in 2009, our students' math scores now rank behind those of 31 countries. Science and reading scores have also fallen, with current international rankings at 9th and 5th, respectively.
The problem starts at the very beginning of the education process: in the preschool years. Sadly, despite being one of the most powerful countries in the world, we do not have a unified preschool curriculum.
Preschool in our great country is a gift not an obligation and there are wide disparities in children's access to high-quality programs. For example, in New Jersey all 3- and 4-year olds have the right to attend a full-day preschool program staffed by college-educated teachers, while in Pennsylvania no such state-funded programs exist. Low-income and language-minority children, who need additional learning opportunities the most, are hit the hardest because they are the least likely to attend preschool.
Children who are fortunate enough to attend preschool are oftentimes faced with instructors who, despite their compassion and enthusiasm for helping these children, are qualified for daycare but not for teaching. This presents many problems for children taking their first steps into the world of education where confidence is everything -- especially as the pressure to perform in kindergarten at a first-grade level increases.
A teacher who is not properly trained can have adverse effects on these future minds of America, placing them at more risk than ever of falling into the achievement gap. If children are properly prepared their advancement is stymied by the distraction of a huge percentage of the class that is not prepared for kindergarten. Our system is failing our most precious asset before they have a chance to get started.
As a father of a young daughter, I know this all too well. When she attended preschool, kindergarten, first grade, and now second grade, I taught in her classroom each year. To my shock and horror I experienced firsthand all of the problems described above.
Fortunately, there is now wide consensus among researchers in education that high-quality preschool programs can promote young children's language and math skills, as well as develop their social skills that help to lower adolescent dropout and crime rates. Although daunting, there are many parents who are as concerned as I am, along with teachers, and policy makers who are committed to reforming the educational system by addressing the inequities that exist at the preschool level.
Joining this trend and following the desire to make a difference, I have partnered with Dr. Shulamit Ritblatt, Chair and Faculty in the Department of Child and Family Development at San Diego State University, to create a high-quality pre-k program, "The Circle of Education." Developed over the past two years, this program includes curriculum to teach the 20 specific school readiness skills identified by professionals as necessary for transitioning from pre-k to kindergarten. The curriculum uses music and movement as teaching tools because music is the thread that ties the fabric of humanity together. The skills, which are taught through music and movement, are fun for children to sing and dance to and represent a new paradigm for how we teach young children essential skills.
Dr. Sascha Mitchell, also a faculty member in the Department of Child and Family Development at San Diego State University, has been working with us to develop print and online versions of the curriculum program for preschool teachers to use as a guide to help children master these skills. We are also developing a guide for parents on how to utilize the songs to enhance skills and behaviors in their child.
All of us on the team are encouraged by the preliminary results of an ongoing study of the overall effectiveness of the system, which indicate that the program is having positive outcomes.
The school readiness curriculum is only the first of many to be developed by "The Circle of Education" program. Our work in the future will address other essential areas of learning and development, such as social skills and emotional competence, bullying and anti-violence prevention, and memory of factual knowledge.
In an effort to provide access to all children, the songs will be translated into multiple languages. Together, the curricula in "The Circle of Education" will provide all children with greater access to the skills essential to a high-quality education. To learn more about "The Circle of Education" and to download the school readiness songs go to: www.babygenius.com .