Early experiences can have a dramatic impact on young children, both positive and negative, according to research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in a recent article, Children Left Behind: Early Environment Can Change Your Brain. The research indicates that childhood poverty can affect brain development with damaging outcomes.
Psychology professor Seth Pollak and economist Barbara Wolfe have been studying the impacts of poverty, including delayed brain development and diminished school readiness skills. Their work suggests that intervention should start early with poor children. Pollak recently presented his research to the newly formed Wisconsin Children’s Caucus. Dipesh Navsaria (below) is also quoted in the article.
[Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is photographed in his office in Madison, Wis. on June 21, 2016. Navsaria is also the medical director of the Wisconsin branch of the national Reach Out and Read program.]
The piece in Wisconsin Watch.org pointed to big achievement gaps in Wisconsin for black students: “Wisconsin has the largest disparity in the country between the performance of black and white students, and the rate at which they graduate.” According to the article, educational psychologist Ed Hubbard said Pollak’s research should serve as ammunition toward policy changes for Republicans and Democrats alike.
Solid research from UW should have a significant impact of state policies, as proposed by the Wisconsin Idea. Let’s hope the growing body of knowledge about early development has an increasing impact.
Dave Edie, Early Education Policy Analyst
