KIDS COUNT REPORT

Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part series on the well-being and educational progress of children in the state overall and North Idaho specifically, based on just-released national and statewide data.

TODAY: An education problem that haunts Idaho.

By STEVE CAMERON

Staff Writer

Robert Fulgham is being proven correct.

Back in 1986, he wrote a best-selling book called “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.”

In the 31 years since Fulgham’s book was published, study after study has confirmed his conclusion, even if the title was meant to be somewhat tongue-in-cheek.

In fact, it is now scientifically and academically accepted that a child’s ultimate educational track is more or less set even before kindergarten.

This is not particularly good news for Idaho, where only 30 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds attend any kind of formal preschool program, according to just-released data compiled by the nationally recognized Annie E. Casey Foundation.

That 30 percent figure places Idaho dead last in the United States.

The Casey Foundation produces a KIDS COUNT report every three years. The data revealed today covers the period from 2013 through 2015 — and in addition to the education component, there are statistics covering economic well-being, family and community, and health.

If it’s any consolation locally concerning that unfortunate 30 percent statewide preschool figure, the Boise-based Idaho Voices for Children compiles comparable statistics within the state — and puts Kootenai County’s preschool attendance at a slightly more respectable 38 percent.

Even the hard work done by various agencies and school districts in this region, however, can’t produce a result anywhere near the national average of 47 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds in enrolled preschool programs.

One glaring deficiency is the lack of funding. Idaho is one of only six states that does not dedicate any taxpayer money specifically for preschools or full-day kindergartens.

“Most other states invest in early education,” said Lauren Necochea, director of Idaho Voices for Children. “That’s the period when a child’s brain architecture is being developed.

“It’s the most cost-effective way to ensure a worthwhile education, along with the social and emotional development that’s necessary to succeed in school.”

Necochea suggested neglecting to fund programs for children under kindergarten age has proven costly down the road.

“There are plenty of studies showing that if you don’t get kids on the right educational track very early in life, you pay a price eventually in terms of a less-educated workforce earning lower wages.

“They are likely to be less healthy, which is a burden on taxpayers, and there’s even a higher probability that you’ll be paying for more people on welfare or absorbing the cost of some who may be involved in a crime.

“Those are prices that don’t need to be paid if we start reaching children before they get on the wrong path — which we know starts very early in life.”

Mark Tucker, executive director of the United Way of North Idaho, explained the logic behind all the efforts to get children involved in education at the youngest possible age.

“Every study shows that once somebody starts kindergarten behind (his or her peers), they stay behind all the way through school — or fall further behind,” Tucker said.

Beth Ann Fuller, director of the Head Start program at North Idaho College, summed up the situation succinctly.

“Educating children immediately and helping their families support that effort will always give you more bang for the buck,” she said.

So why doesn’t the Idaho Legislature allocate any money for preschools and full-day kindergarten, especially when the rewards seem so obvious?

“I would say there’s no doubt it will happen eventually,” said Rep. Paul Amador, R-Coeur d’Alene, “but it may take some time.

“You’re dealing with two very different perspectives on this issue. There is a strong sentiment among a growing number of legislators that pre-kindergarten programs should have some state funding.

“Evidence supports early education. There is more and more research pointing to the benefits.

“But there is another perspective, as well: Quite a few legislators believe that pre-K education should be done at home, by families, or with church involvement. Those legislators so far have not shown any inclination to help preschools with state money. But at least there’s a fairly healthy group in the Legislature that sees the benefit of some funding.

“I’d say the first priority will be to pay for full-day kindergarten, which really is needed, and the push for earlier educational funding will come after that.”

Even though the preschool attendance problem drags Idaho down to 43rd in the KIDS COUNT ranking on education, there was plenty of good news elsewhere in the report.

Idaho ranked 20th in the nation when totaling all four basic categories, and scored terrific numbers in family and community (11th) and economic well-being (14th).

The state was 24th in health.

Other than the issues with education (eighth-graders also ranked below average in math), Idaho equaled or bettered its 2014 numbers in every area except children living in high-poverty areas — which moved just slightly from 5 to 6 percent.

“With the exception of the preschool numbers, Idaho looks pretty good with this data,” Necochea said. “Of course, a lot of the categories depend on help with funding — whether it’s private, state or federal.

“We can only wait and see what [the Trump administration and Congress] decide to do with some programs.”

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WEDNESDAY: What does the big picture look like for children in Kootenai County and the rest of North Idaho?