Economic Impact
The Grand Haven Schools Foundation provides scholarships to children from low-income families so they can attend preschool. This early access to education allows children a chance to acquire the social, emotional and pre-literacy skills needed for a smooth transition to kindergarten. Decades of research indicate that children to participate in quality preschool programs demonstrate high educational skill attainment, graduation rates and are more likely to pursue post-high school education. Our goal is to help these children become successful in school and beyond.
Research shows that 90% of the brain’s architecture is built by age 4, laying the foundation for language, social behavior, problem solving, and emotional health. Early education can change the trajectory of a child’s life from those early years, when the window of opportunity is the greatest.
Children who attend a quality preschool:
- Have fun!
- Learn more words and begin to read more quickly
- Engage in creative learning
- Investigate the world around them
- Learn behaviors and social skills that will make them successful in the classroom and in life (like sharing, following instructions and showing respect for peers and adults)
Research shows that these children are:
- Less likely to repeat a grade
- Have higher high-school graduation rates
- Earn more in their jobs and experience lower rates of poverty
- Are less likely to have problems with the law
