A state task force on early childhood education recommended to legislators yesterday a 10-year plan to establish a statewide early-education system starting with a program for 4-year-old children.

It would cost $10.5 million to begin implementing the early-education program next year, but costs are expected to increase exponentially over the next 10 years to a total cost of more than $170 million.

If implemented, the voluntary program would be the state's first comprehensive early-education system. It is expected to reach more than 15,000 4-year-old children once fully implemented.

Early-education advocates told legislators that studies prove that the earlier children begin learning, the better they perform once they reach kindergarten. Advocates said early education greatly reduces dropout rates, increases standardized test scores and success in school and life.

"The state must work to create a quality early-learning system for all of our keiki," said Robert Peters, head of Hanahauoli School and co-chairman of the task force.

Peters also told lawmakers that children often enter kindergarten unprepared.

"Under 18 percent are entering school with the key literacy skills that they need. This needs to be addressed," he said.

Currently, about 40 percent of all 4-year-olds are enrolled in some type of early-learning or preschool program, according to a legislative report by the Early Learning Educational Task Force, created by the Legislature in 2006 to develop a plan for a comprehensive early-learning system in the state. But of those students, only a portion are enrolled at what the task force considers a quality program.

In the first years of the proposed program — known as Keiki First — focus will be on targeting underserved families who are unable able to afford, or lack access to, early-education. Eventually, the program will serve 80 percent of all 4-year-old children.

The early learning program would operate as a public-private partnership, with existing and new childcare or preschool facilities offering services, said task force member Christina Cox, president of KCAA Preschools of Hawaii.

Many preschools are currently operating at full capacity and face staffing shortages and funding problems, the task force report said. That's partly why the task force is recommending families be able to access a wide-range of providers, including traditional preschool centers, licensed providers who operate out of their homes or family-child interaction learning.

About 80 percent of the cost will be paid for with public money while private funding will pay for the remainder, the plan says.

Families also will be asked to contribute a portion of the costs for services. Financial aid will be available for families that need it.

Early education advocates say the proposed 10-year model will allow the state to gradually increase access to early learning programs while working simultaneously to increase the number of qualified teachers.

The task force estimates that the state will need to recruit about 840 new teachers to fill teaching positions. That will also give teachers time to earn their required degrees, either an associate's or bachelor's in early childhood or child development.

About 65 percent of teachers already have their associate's degree.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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