Trista Kendall
Office 202.862.9873
tkendall@preknow.org

(Washington, DC) - Executive Director of Pre-K Now, Libby Doggett, today issued the following statement on a report from the National Task Force on Early Childhood Education for Hispanics which analyzes the demographic data on Hispanic children living in the United States:

"As leaders take office around the country, it's time for them to make good on their campaign promises for children. Latino students face unique challenges in the U.S. education system, and it's time for lawmakers to find unique solutions. High-quality pre-kindergarten is one of those solutions.

"Latino children are more likely than whites to start school without the fundamental math and reading knowledge and skills they need for academic success. This new study highlights that at least one in three Hispanic students starts kindergarten without adequate oral English skills. Studies show that these disparities persist throughout a child's educational career. Pre-k has been proven to close these achievement gaps.

"An overwhelming majority of Latinos believe that children who attend pre-k have strong educational advantages over those who do not attend. The nine state that are home to the majority of Hispanic children all offer some type of state-funded pre-k. Despite this, only 40 percent of Hispanic children attend pre-k, compared with 60 percent of their white and African American peers. Policymakers and program leaders need to improve outreach to Hispanic communities to make sure parents receive information about how and where they can access pre-k for their families.

"Any discussion of Latinos and early education must address the advantages of bilingualism in the changing world economy. Research indicates that not only can bilingualism benefit a child's early language and literacy development, but bilingual children often have higher levels of academic achievement.

"This study goes beyond facts and numbers - it's a call to action for lawmakers who are truly concerned about laying a strong foundation for America's next generation of leaders."

Pre-K Now collaborates with state advocates and policymakers to lead a movement for high-quality pre-kindergarten for all three and four year olds. The following funders contribute to making this important work possible: The Pew Charitable Trusts, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, RGK Foundation, CityBridge Foundation, and the Schumann Fund for New Jersey.

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