In a January 27 Detroit News commentary about the state’s “Race to the Top” application, Iris Salters, president of the Michigan Education Association, called early childhood education “a priority, not an afterthought.”

She cited a 2008 Rutgers University study that found that all children reap long-term benefits from highly effective early childhood programs, but disadvantaged children saw the most benefit. 

“Without a solid foundation, many of those students go on to struggle in later academic years -- if we, as educators, can get to them early and help them to develop needed skills, perhaps the idea of entire schools "struggling" would cease to be an issue.

“All of the policymaking and bureaucracy and standardized testing in the world can't come close to investing in smaller class sizes, early childhood education, parental involvement and support for the educators who make a difference in a child's life.

“That's what MEA believes in and what we'll continue to advocate for -- regardless of what critics say.”