Most experts agree that early education is critical if we are to raise a generation of children who contribute to their communities and to the workforce in the next millennium. A comprehensive system of early learning, however, has yet to emerge. Now, a panel of American experts says that we may be able to learn from the French universal preschool program, considered the "jewel" of the country's education system.

Fifteen public and private sector leaders from the United States, including Douglas Price, co-founder of Educare Colorado, and Delaine Eastin, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, participated in a 1999 French-American Foundation-sponsored study tour of the French preschool system, known as the "cole maternelle." Says Eastin, "We saw one of the best systems of early childhood education and care in the world."

Ecole maternelle is a free education program for children starting at age 3. Although it is voluntary, nearly one hundred percent of French 3- to 5-year-olds are enrolled, in addition to 35 percent of 2-year-olds. The program features wrap-around services before and after-school, and a sliding scale payment system for families.

The French system differs from the patchwork of U.S. early education programs in many ways. Head Start, the federally-funded U.S. program for low-income families, serves only about 40 percent of eligible children . According to the National Education Goals Panel, 75 percent of 3- to 5-year-olds in families with incomes over $75,000 were enrolled in preschool in 1996, while only 43 percent of 3- to 5-year-olds in families with incomes under $10,000 were enrolled. Many families in the middle are left out, as well.

Head Start may have other things to learn from cole maternelle. In contrast to the full day, year-round format of the cole maternelle, Head Start offers only a half-day, nine-month format. According to Nancy Folbre, a professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts who participated in the study-tour, U.S. preschool could better serve the needs of many families. "The French program provides support services for working parents and those parents who may work nontraditional hours," Folbre says.

The grass may also be greener for early childhood professionals in France. The French government hires and pays preschool teachers, in addition to providing teacher education that is equivalent to a master's degree. Those teachers working in neighborhoods with a high rate of school failure receive additional training and pay to encourage staff stability—a problem that plagues the U.S.

The Center for Child Care in the Work Force reports a 30 percent annual turnover rate among child care workers in the U.S. This is due in part to working conditions, like the average child care workers' hourly wage, which is $6.12—below that of a parking attendant or garbage collector. Research shows that a high turnover rate may decrease the quality of care that young children receive.

What are the drawbacks? From a U.S. perspective, cole maternelle provides a less-than-desirable group size of up to 26 children. Educators in France acknowledge that children with special needs are not always accommodated within the classroom. The cole maternelle also fails to stress child-centered learning or parent involvement—two cornerstones of high-quality early childhood education in the U.S.

Nevertheless, delegates returned eager to reevaluate the U.S. system. Says Doug Price, "The tour of the French system provided a clear call to action—we must give our young children a richer educational experience."

Challenges for Universal Pre-Kindergarten
As of now, Georgia is the only U.S. state that provides a universal pre-kindergarten program—that is, one that serves all families who want their children to participate. Although there are gaps in the availability of pre-kindergarten in the U.S., there are some promising signs that more children will be served.

The Children's Defense Fund reports that forty-two states invested in pre-kindergarten initiatives in the 1989-1999 school year. New York, for example, is phasing in a state-funded pre-kindergarten program that aims to become universal by the year 2003.

Unfortunately, most states still serve only a small percentage of eligible children. According to Sheila Kamerman, director of the Columbia University Institute on Child and Family policy, "Universal preschool would increase our children's school success, and relieve parents who now scramble to find safe and affordable programs."

Critics claim that parents, not the government, should be responsible for getting children ready for school. They also warn that preschool programs pull children away from parents before it is appropriate or prudent. It is also well-documented, however, that two-thirds of mothers with children under five are already in the workforce, and therefore in need of a safe, enriching place to leave their children.

On a national level, early education initiatives are burgeoning. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) introduced the Early Education Act of 1999 (S. 1548), which seeks to help states offer at least one year of early education before a child enters kindergarten. The Early Learning Trust Fund Act (S.749), introduced in Congress last March by Sens. Kennedy (D-Mass.), Dodd (D-Conn.), Kerry (D-Mass.) Jeffords (R-Vt.), and Stevens (R-Alaska), is a bi-partisan bill that would provide states with $10 billion over five years, and give them the flexibility to invest in an array of strategies, including pre-kindergarten programs. The National Association for the Education of Young Children summarizes major 1999 proposals for early education and care.

Other countries, like Sweden and Italy, already have comprehensive preschool programs in place. According to the experts who attended the study-tour of cole maternelle, it boils down to the way people perceive preschool programs. Says Delaine Easton, "In France, talking about preschool was like talking about K-12 schools in the U.S."

She recounts a story in which she asked the Mayor of Issy-les Moulineaux, France, who would suggest that preschool funding was cut during a recession. The Mayor looked incredulous. He said, "No one would dare."

Does universal preschool make sense for the U.S.? Share your thoughts. [1]

Julee Newberger is the former assistant managing editor of Connect for Kids.