Written by: JR Robinson

As the Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) district prepares for the upcoming school board elections on August 1, 2024, candidate Danielle Huggins is making waves with her strong advocacy for expanded access to early childhood education programs in District 7. A product of MSCS schools herself and now an educator within the system, Huggins brings a unique perspective to this critical issue.

Born and raised in the Alcy Ball Neighborhood, Huggins attended Alcy Elementary, Corry Middle, and graduated from Hamilton High School in 2004. This firsthand experience as a student, combined with her current role as an elementary teacher in MSCS, has given Huggins a comprehensive understanding of the district's strengths and challenges, particularly in the realm of early childhood education.

"As someone who has been both a student and an educator in MSCS, I've seen our district's potential and its struggles up close," Huggins stated. "I'm running for the school board because I believe we can do better for our youngest learners, setting them up for long-term academic success."

The Current State of Early Childhood Education in District 7

Huggins paints a sobering picture of the current state of early childhood education in District 7. "Currently, we have limited affordable preschool options and disparities in enrollment based on socioeconomic status," she noted. This situation, she argues, creates an uneven playing field from the very start of a child's educational journey.

According to data from MSCS, while the district offers pre-K programs, they are not universally available or accessible to all families who need them. Enrollment numbers have been recovering slowly since the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw a significant drop in pre-K participation across the district.

The Importance of Early Childhood Education

Huggins is a firm believer in the transformative power of early childhood education. "Quality early childhood education has a tremendous positive impact on K-12 outcomes," she stated. "It improves school readiness, helps close achievement gaps, and fosters a love of learning from an early age."

Her stance is supported by extensive research in the field of early childhood education. Studies have consistently shown that children who participate in high-quality preschool programs are better prepared for kindergarten, have stronger language skills, and are more likely to graduate from high school and pursue higher education.

Moreover, early childhood education has been shown to have long-term societal benefits, including reduced crime rates, increased earnings potential, and improved health outcomes. Huggins argues that investing in early childhood education is not just an educational imperative but also an economic and social one.

Huggins' Proposals for Expanded Access

To address the current limitations in early childhood education access, Huggins has outlined several key proposals:

1. Increasing Funding for Public Preschools: Huggins advocates for a significant boost in funding for public preschool programs in District 7. This increased investment would allow for the expansion of existing programs and the creation of new ones, particularly in underserved areas of the district.
2. Partnering with Community Organizations: Recognizing that the district cannot solve this issue alone, Huggins proposes forming partnerships with community organizations to offer more early childhood education programs. This could include collaborations with local daycare centers, churches, and non-profit organizations dedicated to early childhood development.
3. Advocating for Affordable Access Policies: Huggins plans to push for policies that make early education more affordable and accessible to all families in District 7. This could include sliding scale fees based on family income, transportation assistance, and extended hours to accommodate working parents.
4. Moving Toward Universal Preschool: As a long-term goal, Huggins supports the implementation of universal preschool in District 7. This would ensure that every child, regardless of their family's economic circumstances, has access to high-quality early childhood education.
5. Enhancing Quality of Existing Programs: In addition to expanding access, Huggins emphasizes the importance of maintaining and improving the quality of existing early childhood education programs. This includes investing in teacher training, updating curriculum, and ensuring appropriate student-to-teacher ratios.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Huggins envisions a collaborative approach to expanding early childhood education access. She plans to forge partnerships with various stakeholders in the community, including:

1. Local Daycare Centers: By partnering with existing daycare centers, Huggins believes the district can quickly expand its capacity to offer quality early childhood education programs.
2. Non-Profit Organizations: Collaborations with organizations like Porter-Leath, which already has a strong presence in early childhood education in Memphis, could bring additional resources and expertise to the district's efforts.
3. Universities and Colleges: Partnerships with local higher education institutions could provide opportunities for research, teacher training, and innovative program development in early childhood education.
4. Business Community: Huggins plans to engage the local business community to support early childhood education initiatives, potentially through funding, sponsorships, or workplace-based preschool programs.
5. Healthcare Providers: Recognizing the link between early childhood education and health outcomes, Huggins proposes partnerships with healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive support for young children and their families.

Addressing Potential Challenges

Huggins acknowledges that expanding early childhood education access is not without its challenges. Funding is a primary concern, especially given recent budget constraints faced by MSCS. To address this, Huggins proposes a multi-pronged approach:

1. Prioritizing early childhood education in the district's budget allocations
2. Seeking additional state and federal funding for early childhood programs
3. Exploring grant opportunities from private foundations and corporations
4. Implementing cost-sharing models with community partners

Another challenge is the need for qualified early childhood educators. Huggins proposes investing in teacher training programs and offering competitive salaries and benefits to attract and retain high-quality early childhood educators.

Measuring Success and Ensuring Accountability

To ensure that expanded access to early childhood education translates into improved outcomes for students, Huggins emphasizes the importance of robust measurement and accountability systems. She proposes:

1. Regular assessments of school readiness for children entering kindergarten
2. Tracking long-term academic performance of students who participated in early childhood education programs
3. Conducting regular quality assessments of early childhood education programs
4. Gathering feedback from parents and teachers on the effectiveness of programs
5. Transparent reporting of outcomes to the community

Community Engagement and Parent Education

Huggins recognizes that expanding access is only part of the solution. Equally important is ensuring that families understand the value of early childhood education and are equipped to support their children's learning at home. To this end, she proposes:

1. Community outreach programs to educate parents about the importance of early childhood education
2. Parent workshops on supporting early learning at home
3. Family engagement initiatives to involve parents in their children's early education
4. Multilingual outreach to ensure all families in the diverse District 7 community are informed and engaged

Looking Ahead

As the August 1 election approaches, Huggins continues to engage with District 7 residents, sharing her vision for expanded early childhood education access. Her campaign emphasizes the long-term benefits of investing in our youngest learners and the potential for transformative change in the district.

"I'm running for this seat because I believe in the potential of our students, our teachers, and our community," Huggins stated. "By ensuring that every child in District 7 has access to quality early childhood education, we can set them on a path to success that will benefit not just their individual futures, but the future of our entire community."

Huggins' focus on early childhood education offers a compelling vision for the future of MSCS. By addressing the critical need for expanded access to quality preschool and early learning programs, she aims to create a district where every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to build a strong educational foundation from the earliest years.

As voters prepare to cast their ballots, Huggins' message resonates with many who believe that investing in early childhood education is key to improving long-term educational outcomes for all students in Memphis-Shelby County Schools. Whether her vision becomes reality will depend not only on the outcome of the election but also on the collective will of the community to prioritize and support early childhood education as a cornerstone of educational success.