HELP TO JUMP-START OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION

January 31, 2004

JANUARY 31, 2004 THE PEOPLE'S FORUM
At a time when more than 70 percent of Georgia's fourth graders are reading below grade level and state test scores consistently rank in the bottom 20 percent nationwide, Georgians are looking for ways to turn things around.

We at Smart Start Georgia support Governor Perdue's vision to ensure that Georgia's more than 500,000 preschool-aged children develop a strong foundation for learning, starting at birth. 

As Governor Perdue unveiled during his State of the State address, new legislation will improve coordination among Georgia's many early child care programs, including the Office of School Readiness and Smart Start Georgia, by creating Bright from the Start, Georgia's Office of Early Care and Education.

By streamlining Georgia's early child care programs, the goal is that every child in Georgia will start kindergarten ready to succeed. 

Quality early learning is an important issue for Georgia. In addition to the positive economic impact it has on our state, according to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, children who experience quality early learning are less likely to drop out of school, repeat grades, require remedial education or get into future trouble with the law than similar children who did not have such exposure.

Quality early learning also helps ensure that every child has an equal chance at future success starting on the day they are born.
SHAREN HAUSMANN
Director of Smart Start Georgia 

â?? This article posted with permission from the Albany Herald.