Carrie Williams, executive director of the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Foundation
Focus on early childhood education would help Oklahoma's low test scores
Oklahoma’s students remain far behind national averages in reading and math. This sobering reminder from the latest results of the Nation’s Report Card by National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) underscores a persistent challenge in our state and highlights the critical need to invest in early childhood education, particularly for children from birth to age five. At Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness (OPSR), these findings only deepen our commitment to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.
In March of last year, we launched a public awareness campaign called "Before the Bell" designed to help parents unlock the extraordinary potential their children hold by providing a strong foundation for learning. This campaign emphasizes a simple but powerful truth: Learning begins long before the first day of kindergarten. Everyday interactions like reading a bedtime story or singing a nursery rhyme allow parents to play an essential role in shaping their child’s future.
From engaging social media ads and influencer collaborations to television commercials and Spotify playlists filled with children’s music and podcasts, our goal is to make early learning resources accessible and approachable. Additionally, we’ve created a robust website, beforethebellok.org, packed with tools tailored for parents and caregivers.
These efforts are supported by the Federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) through the Preschool Development Grant Birth to Five, which has provided over $12 million to enhance early childhood services across the state. This partnership between ACF, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services and OPSR will result in a $36 million investment over three years. The state provides a 30% match to those federal dollars, bringing total investment to nearly $47 million.
Beyond raising awareness and providing parenting resources, we also collaborate with impactful early literacy programs like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and Reach Out and Read. The Imagination Library mails high-quality books directly to children at no cost to families, fostering a love of reading from a young age. Similarly, Reach Out and Read brings books into pediatric clinics, allowing children to take a free book home from their well-child visits.
Our work is far from complete. If we want to see real change in academic performance, we must start by addressing the foundational years. Research consistently shows investments in early education yield substantial returns in academic outcomes, as well as overall well-being, economic productivity and community health. It’s a ripple effect that begins with something as simple as a child turning the pages of their first book.
Oklahoma’s children are brimming with untapped potential. Together, parents, caregivers and political leaders must provide the resources and support they need to succeed. The results may not be immediate, but the rewards will be undeniable: a generation prepared not only to meet academic benchmarks but to thrive far beyond them.
Ghostwritten for Carrie Williams, executive director of the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Foundation.