The number of preschools in the USA has been increasing, partly because of the increasing number of mothers working outside the home, and partly because of the increase in the number of children attending preschool. There are preschool activities in the USA that help to foster learning in the school facilities. These facilities provide an opportunity for parents to socialize and help their children develop academically. Preschool attendance is also associated with higher parental educational levels and higher income. This correlation is also evident in government assistance programs that target families from low-income households.
Head Start
The Head Start preschool program in the USA provides educational opportunities for young children. The program is free for children whose families meet certain income guidelines. Children participating in this program engage in a variety of activities, such as health screenings, eating nutritious meals, and outdoor play. These activities are essential in early childhood development and help foster a child’s resiliency.
Head Start was originally an Air Force program, called Operation Head Start. The program began as part of the Great Society campaign. It was justified by the staff of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, which was headed by Stan Salett, a civil rights activist and national education policy adviser. He also helped create the Upward Bound program, which provided early education for low-income children.
Sessional preschools
The first two years of preschool are important for young children, as they help prepare them for school and develop their emotional and social skills. For children with special needs, preschool may be particularly important. There are two basic types of preschool in the United States: full-day preschools and sessional preschools. The difference between the two is in the amount of time the children spend in each setting. Sessional preschools teach children for a few hours each day, while full-day preschools teach children throughout the day.
While the United States is making strides to improve early childhood care and education, its availability and quality are still limited. Many infant and toddler care programs remain informal, and most are not even fully funded. In addition, most parents are not granted job-protected or paid leave to care for their infants. Federal funding for these programs has increased since the mid-1990s but is still inadequate to provide adequate care. Many programs are not well-resourced and are not of high quality, and their staff may not receive adequate compensation.
Home-based programs
Home-based preschool programs are an innovative approach to the educational needs of young children. The benefits of this program include direct parent involvement, a non-threatening environment, and affordable fees. However, home-based preschool programs are not for every family. Many factors are involved, including family income, ethnicity, and age.
Low-income, rural, and African-American families are often the primary beneficiaries of home-based programs. These programs help to reduce child maltreatment and injury, improve parenting, and promote economic security. According to the Community Preventive Services Task Force, home-based programs can improve vaccination rates and reduce the incidence of asthma in children.
Center-based programs
The cost of center-based preschool programs in the USA can range widely. A typical program costs close to 30 percent of a family’s income. However, only ten percent of these programs are rated as high-quality. The price of center-based programs depends on the quality of the program and the cost of enrollment.
The age at which a family places their infant in care depends on the family’s income, ethnicity, and level of maternal education. Poorer families are less likely to place their infants in center-based care before the age of three months. Despite these differences, poor children receive equal care in center-based programs as do their affluent counterparts.
Quality of programs
Preschools across the country differ in quality, but some are better than others. According to the 2006 State Preschool Yearbook, one million children participated in state-funded preschool programs in 2005-2006. The quality of these programs ranged from good to poor, depending on access and funding. In recent years, however, quality has been increasing as more states adopted comprehensive learning standards. However, there were still many states that did not require prekindergarten teachers to have a bachelor’s degree and did not require special training for ECEC programs.
Quality preschools are dedicated to promoting lifelong learning, but often face a lack of resources or understaffing. Children are not fully engaged in learning, and educators try to dictate and control their behavior without listening to them. Some preschools fail to foster their students’ natural curiosity and encourage them to play.