A new report by the non-profit RAND Corporation finds San Diego County would benefit greatly from universal preschool. The study looks at the impact of a high-quality preschool program, available to all four year olds, on California's different counties and regions. KPBS reporter Beth Ford Roth has the story.
The study finds universal preschool would decrease the number of high school drop-outs in San Diego County by 11 percent. The number of students in special education would shrink by 5 to 7 percent.
Advocates say preschool helps children by catching learning problems early on, and making the most of a time when youngsters' brains are rapidly developing.
RAND researcher Lynn Karoly conducted the study.
Karoly: "These are downstream benefits that follow from these children participating in a one year preschool program, and these benefits would accrue for each group of children who participate in the program year by year."
The study also found a universal preschool program would reduce the number of children involved in the juvenile court system in San Diego County by as much as nine percent. Beth Ford Roth, KPBS news.
