Back to School

Last week, schools in our community opened their doors once again to welcome students back from summer. The first day of school is a significant day for children and parents alike. This year my wife and I took part in this tradition as we took our son to his first day of preschool.

Seeing all the young kids with backpacks and school supplies reminds me of the obligation we have to the next generation. I want children in our community to have even greater opportunities than my generation had growing up–and an even brighter future. But right now, too many children in our community are left behind on the wrong side of the opportunity gap.

It doesn’t have to be this way. I believe all children should have a fair shot, and early learning is one of the best educational investments we can make to bring that goal to fruition.

Early Learning And Beyond

For years, we focused our educational interventions on the most visible signs of the opportunity gap, like the high school drop out rate. These efforts are important, and we need to continue this work. But now we also understand that we need to reach kids well before that point. Eighty-five percent of a child’s brain development takes place within the first three years of life. These years are critical, and many young kids are already falling behind their peers by the time they start kindergarten. I believe this is fundamentally unfair.

Early learning programs help ensure that young children have the tools they need to start out on the right foot. Once children start school, investments to increase class time and decrease class size also help chip away at the opportunity gap–especially in grades K-3. This year, the state budget made significant investments in both of these areas. Spokane Public Schools set an even more ambitious target and welcomed its first district-wide cohort of full-day kindergarten students earlier this month. Shiloh Hills Elementary in the Mead School District also started “Full-Day K.”

I am truly pleased that our educators, parents, school district leaders and others are working together to take on this challenge and help close the opportunity gap. I look forward to working side by side with our community to address this issue.

Mobile Office – September 24

Please join Senator Andy Billig, Representative Timm Ormsby and me for our upcoming Mobile Office at Chairs Coffee. This is a casual opportunity for you to drop in and meet with us, and ask questions or pass on concerns. Here are the details:

Tuesday, September 24
Chairs Coffee, 113 West Indiana
4:00-5:30pm

We will hold two other Mobile Offices before heading back to Olympia in January. So if you can’t make it this time, be sure to join us the next time around.

In the meantime, you can always call or email me if you have thoughts or concerns. Public input is what makes democracy work. I always appreciate hearing from you.

Best Regards,

Representative Marcus Riccelli
3rd Legislative District – Spokane