Education Begins in the Womb
School Readiness - Early Learning
Education Begins in the Womb
Education begins even before birth. From the moment they are born, babies form up to 2 million synapse connections per second, laying the foundation for brain development. The first five years of life are the most critical for language acquisition, making it a prime time for young children to absorb and learn languages.
Language, however, is more than just learning the alphabet. It is the key to decoding and interpreting the world around us, including subjects like math. Early literacy provides children the essential tools to explore and understand their environment, setting the stage for future learning.
A vital part of this early learning process is parent engagement. Parents are a child's first teachers, and early education programs empower them with the resources they need to support their child's development—whether in fine and gross motor skills, social-emotional growth, or cognitive abilities. This partnership between parents and early educators is crucial in creating a strong foundation for learning.
The benefits of early education extend far beyond the classroom. Nobel laureate economist James Heckman has shown that high-quality early childhood programs can yield a 13% return on investment annually through improved education, health, and economic outcomes. (García et al.) Studies by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) also highlight that early education reduces the need for costly interventions like special education services, grade repetition, and remediation later in a child’s school life. Public schools save significant money by reducing these costs, benefiting the entire education system and saving taxpayer dollars in other public services. (Meloy)
Education is not just an academic or economic issue—it’s a public health concern. Providing every child with a quality education is key to addressing broader societal challenges, such as closing wealth gaps, reducing homelessness, lowering crime rates, and decreasing incarceration. We can tackle these systemic issues effectively by ensuring equitable access to education.
A world-class city like San Francisco, known for its diversity and celebrates all types of families, must recognize the importance of inclusive education policies. Great cities must have good education policies that address the fundamental role that housing stability and mental health play in a child’s ability to learn and grow. Children who are hungry, experiencing homelessness, or facing severe hardships cannot be expected to achieve at the same level as another child with none of these obstacles. If we are truly committed to improving outcomes for every child, we must address the social and environmental factors that shape a child’s readiness to show up in the classroom.
To build an effective education system, we must start with maternal health and continue supporting every child’s development from birth. San Francisco deserves a world-class education system that prepares every child to succeed and thrive—from cradle to career.
Virginia Cheung
Works Cited
García, Jorge L., et al. “Quantifying the Life-cycle Benefits of a Prototypical Early Childhood Program.” The Heckman Equation, NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH, June 2017, https://heckmanequation.org/resource/lifecycle-benefits- influential-early-childhood-program/. Accessed 17 October 2024.
Meloy, Beth. “Research Shows High-Quality Pre-K Can Pay Off, Now Let's Deliver It.” National Institute for Early Education Research, 31 January 2019, https://nieer.org/research-library/research-shows-high-quality-pre-k-can-pay-now-lets- deliver-it. Accessed 17 October 2024.