Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/952089
Pre-K options are steadily increasing as Northwest Ar- kansas' population grows and parents want more choices, early childhood education professionals say. About 300 licensed pre- schools or day cares in the region are licensed with the state Division of Child Care and Early Education. Facili- ties run the gamut of public, private, nonprofit, home and faith-based. Parents often face tough decisions when it comes to balancing work schedules with finding the right day care or preschool, said Doug Walsh, executive director for business and operations at the Jean Tyson Childhood Development Center at the University of Arkansas. The difficulty compounds for lower-income families who can't afford a traditional pre - school and need a place for their children to go during the day, he said. "The private sector, both nonprofit and for-profit, is certainly popping up to try to fill in the gap," Walsh said. "You see the variety across the board." Greater investment and variety in pre-K education equates to a net positive ef- fect on the community, Walsh said. Studies show children who attend preschool are better prepared academically by age 5, remain committed to school at 14 and have higher high school graduation rates than those who don't, accord- ing to the Center for Public Education, a national data- base on public education. Early education can make a huge difference in a child's life, especially those who don't speak English in a pri- marily English-speaking com- munity, said Darlene Flee- man, director of Springdale's pre-K program. Springdale children en- tering school often haven't ex p e r i e n ce d g ro u p c a re where they can hone English language skills, which better prepares them for kindergar- ten and onward, she said. Of the district's 21,516 students, 46 percent come from a Span- ish-speaking home, 12 percent come from a Marshallese home and 3 percent speak a language other than English, according to Springdale Pub- lic Schools spokesman Rick Schaeffer. That doesn't mean the students aren't proficient in English; it's just not the pri- mary language spoken in the home, he said. State money has played a key role in increasing the quality of early childhood education, Fleeman said. Springdale pre-K is paid for NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Trey Crouch, 5 (from left), and Whitten Smith, 5, look at a magazine at Helen R. Walton Children's Enrichment Center in Bentonville. Early education options are steadily increasing as Northwest Arkansas' population grows and people want more choices. Options bring variety, choice in early childhood education STACY RYBURN NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STARTING STRONG NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Pre-K teacher Laura Thompson (center) works on a puzzle with Knox Hensley-Nichols, 5, (from left) and Audrina Williamson, 5, at Helen R. Walton Children's Enrichment Center in Bentonville. "The private sector, both nonprofit and for-profit, is certainly popping up to try to fill in the gap. You see the variety across the board." — Doug Walsh, executive director for business and operations at the Jean Tyson Childhood Development Center at the University of Arkansas See PRE-K, Page 7T PREKINDERGARTEN EDUCATION Education ∂ ∂ SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2018 v 5T US-412 Siloam Springs, AR 72761 (479) 524-3166 cobb-vantress.com "Join a team where you can laugh, learn and love." APPLY TODAY 479.936.9885 | HomeInstead.com/375 100 N. Dixieland Rd., Suite A5 | Rogers, AR 72756 Your unique talents and experiences will allow seniors to stay independent at home. We offer: • Flexible schedule and hours • Ongoing world-class training • Rewarding and meaningful career • Supportive and responsive offi ce staff Affordable tuition rates starting at $75 per hour No application fee Payment plans available Start at NWACC, then transfer to your choice of four-year school Classes available online and in Benton & Washington Counties enrollmentsupport@nwacc.edu 479.986.4000 nwacc.edu/admissions � NWACC1 � � @nwacc College students home over summer break? Take courses at NWACC and save money! SUMMER & FALL REGISTRATION OPENS APRIL 2 *Limited time offer. APY=Annual Percentage Yield. APY is accurate as of March 5, 2018. Rate may change after account opening. Interest paid monthly. Northwest Arkansas Offi ces 2592 N. Gregg, Ste. 22, Fayetteville • (479) 316-4700 Mon. - Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 3210 S. Walton Blvd., Bentonville • (479) 802-7200 Mon. - Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. www.goifb.com PH TO REPRINTS available for purchase online at nwadg.com/photos