Preschool Education In USA - Emerging Trends And Implications For Future

Early childcare and education is now universallyNo Child Left Behind Act, provides competitive
regarded as an important component of basicgrants to school districts and pre-school programs,
education. The World Conference on Education forsuch as Head Start centers. The grants fund the
All held in March 1990 at Jomtien, Thailanddevelopment of model programs to support the
promoted the idea that "Learning begins at birth".school readiness of preschool-aged children,
According to United Nations Educational, Scientificparticularly those from low-income families. In
and Cultural Organization, UNICEF, proper earlyorder to make the children with disabilities succeed
childhood programs can produce more agile minds,in their life, the Special Education Preschool Grants
better school attendance, lower repetition andand State Grants program are constituted. They
dropout rates and stronger academic skills. And atwould provide formula grants to states to make
a time, when most parents are increasingly findingquality preschool education in USA available for
it difficult to spend adequate time with theirthe 3- to 5-year-old children with disabilities. Thus,
children in USA, playschools or preschools in USA,while several preschools in USA are making profit
by providing early childhood care and education,by taking care of the young children, some
have come to play a very significant role in themeasures are also being taken to make quality
proper development of skills and ethics of theearly child care available to the marginalized
future American citizens. Therefore, it is verysections of the society as the Bush administration
important to take stock of the emerging trends inhas promoted the "Good Start, Grow Smart"
the preschool education of USA and analyze thepolicy when it comes to preschool education in
implications they bear for the future.USA. However, all is not hunky-dory when we
Preschool Education in USA:look at the state of preschool education in USA
United States of America has a federal structureand despite all the efforts to provide quality
and education is primarily a State and localpreschool education to all, preschool fees in
responsibility. This is reflected well in theseveral parts of USA have gone sky high.
expenditure pattern on America's education. WhileAccording to the Forbes magazine, the admission
the local communities, private organizations andfee in some of the preschools has crossed
State agencies contribute more than ninety$30,000. The admission fee in New York's Ethical
percent of education budget; federal expenditureCulture Fieldstone School has gone up to $ 30,
generally remains below ten percent. States and440. Another preschool in New York, bank Street
communities, as well as public and privatecharges $ 27, 450 and the Center for Early
organizations of all kinds are involved in establishingEducation in Los Angels charges $ 15, 400. This
schools and colleges, develop curricula, andrising admission cost of preschools in USA paints a
determine requirements for enrollment inpicture of preschool education in USA that is in
educational institutes of USA.sharp contrast to the European model where
Emerging trends in Preschool education of USA:most countries prefer to provide state sponsored
While, by allowing private players to providefree quality preschool education.
elementary education, a healthy competition isConclusion:
sought to be promoted among the playschools inWhile competition among the preschools to
USA, the government is also taking someprovide best facilities and education cannot be
measures to make preschool education availabledubbed as bad, a check on the rising cost of
for all. In order to make early childhood educationpreschool education in some of the preschools in
and care available for the disadvantaged sectionUSA would definitely help driving away feelings of
of American society, the U.S department ofalienation from the various sections of American
education sets aside the Title-I grants. Moreover,population and help in producing quality human
the Early Reading First program, established in thecapital for the nation.