Facts about Childhood Poverty & the Benefits of Kindergarten Readiness

Learning doesn’t begin when children start school…it begins at birth.  A newborn’s brain is only about one-quarter the size of an adult’s.  It grows to about 80 percent of an adult size by three years of age and 90 percent by age five.

The first three years of life are a period of incredible growth in every area of a baby’s development. All babies and toddlers need positive early learning experiences to foster their intellectual, social and emotional development and lay the foundation for later school success. Young children living in high-risk environments need additional support to promote their healthy growth and development.

• More than 500 preschool age children in the Plymouth/Wayzata area need financial support to attend an early learning center.
• There often is a waiting list for the County Child Care Assistance Program.
• Only a limited number of additional scholarships are available through CfK, the Wayzata School District and the State.

The high cost of childcare is out of reach for families with entry level or low paying jobs. In Hennepin County, the median annual price of childcare for an infant is $20,733. Source: US Dept of Labor. This keeps single mothers and parents who are struggling financially from working or going back to school to become qualified for a career path and a chance to climb out of poverty. Their children are at risk of entering kindergarten unprepared to succeed, which puts their futures in jeopardy.

Kindergarten Preparedness Influences Learning Outcomes in School

The research is undeniable and has proven the link between children entering kindergarten prepared and ready to learn with the ability to create successful futures for themselves.

• Bloom dedicates half its capacity to low income children through the community funded Shirley Robinson Scholarship Fund and other scholarship sources.
• Students receiving scholarships to Bloom Early Learning are not only ready for kindergarten, they exceed standards and expectations based on feedback from teachers at Wayzata Public Schools.
• Regular assessments of our children demonstrate that Bloom has a significant positive impact on the social, emotional, cognitive and academic skills students need to be fully prepared for kindergarten and beyond.

Bloom is guided by the desire to break the cycle of poverty in our community. Our high quality, individualized, responsive and stimulating environment promotes healthy growth and robust early learning. Coupled with the financial assistance and other resources we provide, we can help families to become financially independent and have successful, vibrant futures.