Hawaii 4-year-olds need preschool now; they can’t wait another decade.

Hawaii lags behind the nation in early education. We are one of the remaining states that has not brought universal preschool to our communities. It’s embarrassing. Worse, it’s not fair to our children. To compete in the future, our children need and deserve the best education to succeed. This November, we have the opportunity to do something that will make a difference.

Ballot question No. 4 in the upcoming election asks voters to approve an amendment to the Hawaii Constitution that would allow the state to contract with licensed, carefully screened private nonprofit preschools.

Voting yes on the amendment is key to leveling the playing field for our keiki. A yes vote is a vote for all our children, regardless of their socio-economic status. Our neediest kids will receive the most benefit, and that’s good for our entire state.

This is not a "rich" versus "poor" issue as leaders of the Hawaii State Teachers Association would have voters to believe. Let’s face it: higher-income families can afford preschool and most of their kids are enrolled already. It’s our middle- to low-income families that need the leg-up.

The vast majority of our preschools serve low-income and middle-income communities. The amendment would simply provide access to more children, if the preschools choose to participate and meet strict standards.

Most of our preschools are nonprofits that rely on individual donations and foundations. Detractors have suggested that preschools are in a position to profit from private-public partnership. This is simply not the case and apparent if you look at the economics. In fact, it’s clear that these private monies, combined with public funds, would make it a more affordable system than a public-only model. And, our kids wouldn’t have to wait for a cumbersome state Department of Education (DOE) system to be structured, negotiated, funded and implemented.

We have an obligation to provide all Hawaii’s keiki with opportunity. Early learning gives children a better shot at success. Research tells us that preschool benefits the child and society, reducing long-term public costs. This is the first step in workforce development and a reduction of social costs later.

For every dollar we invest to get children ready for school, $4.20 is generated in future savings and increased earnings. There’s evidence of lower crime, less unemployment and less dependency on social services. Ultimately, an investment in early childhood development and learning saves taxpayer money. Dealing with potential problems at the front end makes more sense than dealing with them at the back end.

This is not a private-versus-public issue. There are not enough public resources in Hawaii to provide 17,500 4-year-olds with quality early learning every year. It’s smart and efficient to use existing infrastructure of our private preschool system to create a foundation for the future, both public and private. "Yes on 4" is yes to public and private preschools for 4-year-olds — not one or the other.

HSTA leaders call for more studies and want us to wait until the DOE devises a public-only plan. Such a plan would take years, execution would take even longer and it would be terribly expensive. In the meantime, the neediest of our 17,500 4-year-olds would continue to go to kindergarten unprepared.

Participating preschools, public or private, would have to meet strict standards and would not be able teach religion on state time. This is the law. To qualify to participate, preschools could not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, ancestry or income.

Because we know that more than 85 percent of brain development occurs from birth to age 5, and that by age 8 the pattern for lifelong learning is set, it is critical that we give our keiki a solid head start. Through early learning and school-readiness programs, those children are healthy and able to take on the challenges of elementary school.

Do what’s right for our children. Vote yes on Ballot Question 4.