The value of early education

What is the most basic obligation of our state? According to our constitution, the state's "paramount duty" is to provide an education to all of its children. A coalition of school district officials, union leaders and civic activists recently filed suit against Washington state, claiming it has failed in that duty and must increase spending on "basic education."

The court will be asked to address the seminal question: What is "basic education"? The last time a Washington court directly answered that question — almost three decades ago — it stated that a basic education must include opportunities "to equip our children for their role as citizens and as potential competitors in today's market."

In the 21st century, our citizens of tomorrow need the knowledge and skills to perform effectively in a global society. That means we need to give them the tools to allow them to succeed in both school and in their work life.

It has become increasingly clear that one of those tools must be high-quality pre-kindergarten education. Recent research has crystallized the urgency for the education of young children, as study after study demonstrates that the early years of a child's life present a critical window of opportunity for brain development and learning.

In establishing the Department of Early Learning last year, the state acknowledged that "what happens in the earliest years makes a critical difference in children's readiness to succeed in school and life." Furthermore, as the governor's Washington Learns Commission found, attendance at preschool increases retention rates in school, lowers dropout rates, decreases the need for special education, and decreases juvenile crime rates. These are concrete, measurable examples of the value of pre-kindergarten education.

As a result of the myriad research and commission findings, we now understand that a child's pre-kindergarten education is the first and crucial stage of one's long-term intellectual and social development. Pre-kindergarten education in this new century is not a mere educational enrichment, but is fundamentally a basic educational requirement to ensure that our children become productive citizens in our global economy.

Providing access to these programs is essential to ensuring school readiness and narrowing the achievement gap. Those who start behind, stay behind.

At a minimum, the state owes a constitutional duty to provide pre-kindergarten education to at-risk kids who enter school at a substantial competitive disadvantage. For children from low-income families, preschool can help with language, cognitive, social and emotional skills that allow them to catch up with more-affluent peers. Without these skills, these at-risk children will not attain a basic education that permits them to compete in our modern world.

Gov. Christine Gregoire and the state Legislature have made a laudable effort in recognizing the importance of early learning by initiating Thrive by Five Washington. Thrive by Five is a public-private partnership designed to promote access to early-learning opportunities. However, that effort is not sufficient to ensure high-quality pre-kindergarten programs for all who want and need them.

The state is obligated under its constitution to fully fund a basic education for all children in Washington state. That includes preschoolers.

Diana Stone is a senior fellow and Christopher Anderson is a pro bono attorney with Washington Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest. Ruth Lipscomb is a board member of the League of Education Voters and a member of Social Venture Partners.