4/16/13 - Lawmakers, advocates and local law enforcement leaders spoke about the importance of early childhood education to not only set kids on a path for success but ensure long term results. State Representative Bill Rogers of Genoa Township and Livingston County Sheriffâs Department Lieutenant Mike Kinaschuk read âFarmer Johnâs Tractorâ to a group of rather animated preschoolers at the Brighton Community Preschool Day Care Center or old Miller building yesterday. A new report from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan was unveiled prior focused on the importance of high quality pre-school. Kinaschuk has been a member of the organization for more than a decade and says anything that can be done at the early childhood level to reduce the number of kids who get involved with criminal elements benefits everyone in the long run. The group is also urging support for Governor Snyder's proposal to increase funding for the Great Start Readiness Program targeting at-risk 4-year-olds by $65 (m) million in each of the next two fiscal years. State Director K.P. Pelleran stressed the importance of high quality programs and model curriculum aimed at the social, emotional and cognitive development of children in the classroom so students are able to learn and get a good foundation before they get to kindergarten, which then sets them up for the future. State Representative Rogers supports the proposal and says lawmakers finally have an opportunity to address the issues, reduce crime, lower corrections costs and save money. Officials from Great Start Livingston and Head Start along with the Livingston County Sandbox Party attended the event and also discussed the importance of early childhood education research and the report, which can be viewed through the link below. (JM)
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