Report: Early schooling lacking in region

For Idaho's kids, access to some important educational opportunities depends greatly on where they live.

That's one of the big take-aways from a report released last week by Idaho Voices for Children.

County-level U.S. Census Bureau data compiled by the Boise-based nonprofit reveals low participation in early childhood education programs throughout the state with wide variations across the counties. The same is true for young adults going to college.

"We know that Idaho will have the strongest future possible when all kids have the opportunities that will put them on a path to success, regardless of zip code and ethnicity," Lauren Necochea, director of Idaho Voices for Children, said in a press release. "Increasing access to early education and affordable postsecondary education will strengthen our state, today and for decades to come."

Just 34 percent of Idaho's 3- to 4-year-olds are enrolled in any type of school. The national rate is 47.7 percent.

Locally, 37.4 percent of Kootenai County's young children are enrolled in early childhood education. In Bonner County, the enrollment rate is 33.4 percent. The rate drops to 15 percent in Benewah County. Insufficient data was available for the report compilers to provide a reliable early childhood education rate for Shoshone County.

"Quality early education has profound, lifelong impacts because the brain architecture actually develops before kids even enter school," Necochea said. "Investments in early learning pay off in higher educational attainment, reductions in crime and delinquency, and greater productivity in adulthood."

At the other end of the educational spectrum, just 33 percent of Idaho's 25- to 34-year-olds are currently working on attaining an associate's degree or higher. The national rate is 40 percent.

In Kootenai County, 32.2 percent of young adults are enrolled in two-year or four-year college degree programs. In Bonner County, it's 25.8 percent.

The percentage drops dramatically in Benewah County where 15.1 percent of young adults are working on a community college or university degree. In Shoshone County, it's 18.8 percent.

Beth Oppenheimer, executive director of the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children, said education is the best way to increase Idaho children's chances for success.

"And the smartest, most cost-effective way to improve educational outcomes is to give kids a great start," Oppenheimer said. "Unfortunately not all children have equal access to high-quality early learning in Idaho."