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Top Takeaways is a series of recaps from important conversations, town halls, webinars and virtual events about early learning.

On Dec. 3, hosted a roundtable discussion in conjunction with the release of their national report and short film exploring the current state of child care and preschool in rural communities 鈥� and the impact they have on kids鈥� development, local economies, public safety and national security.

Sandra Bishop, research director at Council for a Strong America, provided initial context before the following panelists presented.

• Thomas Dempster, director at IFAM Capital and former South Dakota State Senator
• Geoff Spalding, police chief in Astoria, Oregon
• James C. Johnson, retired U.S. Air Force general
• Mindy Young, early education consultant and trainer
• Leigh Sargent, director of Tallahatchie Early Learning Alliance

Below are our top five takeaways from the conversation.

1. Defining 鈥渞ural鈥� correctly matters. Bishop explained that there are various definitions, but two of the most common come from the U.S. Census Bureau, which defines an area that has fewer than 2,500 residents as rural, and the U.S Department of Agriculture, which has a more nuanced definition applying nine categories of rural-urban continuum coding. 鈥淯sing the U.S. Department of Agriculture definition, approximately 14 percent of the American population live in rural areas, and there are rural areas across all 50 states,鈥� Bishop said.

2. Poverty rates are on the rise. Children and families in rural areas have a higher poverty rate than those in metro areas: 22% compared to 17%. The poverty rate increases to 25% for children under the age five living in rural areas. More than three-fourths of the U.S. counties with persistently high child-poverty rates are rural. While these counties span the U.S. and have different demographic representation, they are disportionately populated by children of color. 鈥淭he children of color in those areas have rates of poverty that are more than double those of non-Hispanic white children in the same counties,鈥� Bishop said.

3. Access to quality early child care and education is essential. 鈥淲hat early childhood education does, especially with targeted investments, is allow disadvantaged children to participate and to own the American Dream,鈥� Dempster said.

However, children in these rural communities are less likely to have access to these vital programs. Chief Spalding explained, 鈥淩ural areas are more likely to be classified as child care deserts,鈥� which are areas where children under 5 years old outnumber the available licensed child care slots by 3 to 1 or more. 鈥淩esearch shows the kids who participate in high quality early learning programs are better prepared to start kindergarten, more likely to graduate from high school, less likely to have behavioral problems and less likely to become involved in crime.鈥�

4. Population and employment are declining. For the first time in history, rural America lost population between 2010 and 2016. Contributors to this population loss are threefold, 鈥淭his is due in large part to young people leaving rural areas,鈥� Bishop explained. 鈥淭here have also been fewer births and an aging population.鈥� These declines have led to a decrease in business, employment and critical services like health care.

5. Critical recruitment systems are suffering. The U.S. military and local law enforcement agencies are struggling to recruit qualified applicants, especially in rural areas, for the reasons previously explained. Of the pool of 20 million individuals ages 17-24 that have the potential to serve in the nation鈥檚 military, 3 out of every 4 are ineligible due to medical, academic or conduct issues. 鈥淭he physical, mental and emotional capabilities that we need our service members to have are all rooted in those first five years,鈥� General Johnson explained. 鈥淭hose years are foundational.鈥�

This story originally published on Early Learning Nation and is now archived on 社区黑料. Learn more here.