FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   CONTACT: Isabel Barranzuela (202) 332-4200 ext. 167 ibarranzuela@centronia.org CentroNía choosen as a model of educational quality for Pre-K programs in DC . WASHINGTON, D.C.- On Friday, June 23rd , forty 4-year olds will be graduating from Pre-K at CentroNía, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide high quality education to low income families and children in DC. CentroNía’s Pre-K program, one of the few that exist in District of Columbia, credited at a national level and with a developed curriculum reviewed and approved by qualified personnel and competent according to the particular necessities of these children. The quality of Pre-K programs around the city has been an issue to many political and education authorities. There are 354 Pre-K programs for children ages 3 and 4. But only 75 of these programs are accredited on a national level, and another 217 haven’t developed a curriculum. “High-quality Pre-K for All will strengthen the District’s economic future by increasing tax revenues, reducing crime rate, and helping to build a more-employable work force,” shows a new report released by the organization Pre-K Now that promotes this incentive In an investigation by Clive R. Belfield a Professor of Economics at New York University, supports that if the District invests $58.5 million dollars in one year for Pre-K programs, more than 2,000 vacancies will be created and we can improve the existing pre-k programs, saving the District $81.5 million dollars per year. Belfield also affirms that just sending a child to a preschool is not sufficient. The program must be held to some standards to ensure that they are contributing to the children’s (and, by extension, their families, and the District of Columbia as a whole’s) future as much. According to this study, the requisites to have a quality pre-K program are: a.) A low children to teacher ratio, b.) a curriculum that includes language development, mathematics, and other psychomotor skills, c.) the teacher should go through a specialized training in education like the Child Development Associate Credential that CentroNía offers it’s teacher in their language of choice. According to Belfield, the savings lessen the costs of special education, crime, medical attention, and increases the benefits generated by taxes. Belfield studies demonstrates that children who receive a pre-school education have better possibilities of obtaining better grades in higher levels of their education and have better remunerated jobs. “Paying to avoid the problem now is much more inexpensive than the cost of solving the problem in the future, “assures Belfield. “We need to break our habit of low submission” said Terence Golden, vice president of the organization Pre-K Now.” “Starting October 1st, the DC Department of Human Services will make it a requirement that all pre-k programs apply one of the seven approved curriculums and the Department will provide training and support for the curriculum,” Affirms Barbara Kamara, Executive Director of the DC Office of Early Childhood Education. These requirements are feasible standards as shown by the work of CentroNía’s Pre-K Incentive Program who opened their doors in 1972 to three and four year olds in September 2004 and a result of being selected as a model to other pre-K programs. The District of Colombia Public Schools, The DC Department of Human Services, and the DC Office of Early Childhood Education united their funds to support the education of all the 3 and 4 year old children in DC. The proposal from CentroNía reached the highest point during the selection process and therefore is considered the model of pre-k programs. The parents can already see the results. Tomás Quiñones, father of 4 years old Felipe, says: “Since the first time I entered the center I was enchanted by the teachers. My son learned so many things and his we can see his progress at home everyday. I recommend that every parent take the time and visit the programs and centers so that you can compare and make an informed decision before making an actual decision.”