Workgroup Leaders:

Alice Nelson, Community Leader
Sandy Canon, Facilitator
Lisa Deffendall, Project Coordinator
Mona Baker, Staff Leader

Why Consider Early Childhood Experiences?

• Children who have high quality early childhood experiences have higher graduation rates and are less likely to repeat a grade or be assigned to special education classes.
• The experiences children have before they enter the formal school setting lay the foundation for healthy cognitive, physical and social development. Ensuring that children have a healthy start in life paves the way for school readiness, self-esteem and important social skills.
• Too many children enter kindergarten lacking school-readiness and pre-literacy skills.
• An environment rich in literacy, conversation, brain stimulation and strong emotional attachments is critical to building a child's cognitive development and capacity for success.
• Given that early experiences have a profound and long-lasting effect on children's ability to learn, on their health and their social and emotional well-being, our community's investment in the future must support children from the start.