There are few solutions to fixing the city’s schools that more far-reaching, cost-effective, and proven-to-work than ensuring every child has access to high-quality early childhood education.

In a high-quality pre-k classroom, children are empowered with the basic building blocks of a quality education. From teaching early literacy skills to social and emotional development, attention is given to the whole child. This social, emotional and academic foundation is what leads to greater school and life success.

In fact, decades of research shows that children with a pre-k foundation outperform their peers on 3rd and 4th grade reading and math standardized tests. In a city where only 10 percent of 4th graders are proficient in reading, pre-k can produce tangible results for all children.

With a strong start, the research also shows that children are less likely to be referred to special education, be held back a grade and are more likely to graduate high school and go to college. Pre-k kids are even less likely to commit a crime because they gain a social and emotional competency in pre-k that lasts a lifetime.

While most children in the District attend some sort of program, nearly 80 percent of classrooms don’t meet quality accreditation standards. Let’s seize the pre-k opportunity to fix our schools and make DC a more livable community.

Find out more about how pre-k for all is a school reform strategy, a preventive health care policy, an economic development tool, and a crime prevention measure.