The Central City Association (CCA), representing Downtown Los Angeles business leaders, recently hosted a discussion on the topic of education, and stressed the need for preschools to prepare children for school and beyond.

Held at the Sheraton Los Angeles on May 27, attendees heard remarks from Yolie Aguilar Flores, Vice President of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board of Education; Mona Field, Board President of the Los Angeles Community College District; Joan Sullivan, deputy Mayor of Education with the City of Los Angeles; and Celia C. Ayala, Ph.D., LAUP’s Chief Operating Officer.

"There’s no question that the greatest investment in children is in their early

Years," Flores said. "That is why we need to create greater access to preschools."

Flores noted many children today are lagging behind in school, and cannot read according to standards by third-grade. That is a crisis, she said, adding preschool can help reverse that trend.

Carol E. Schatz, President and CEO of the CCA, said the Los Angeles business community understands the need for quality education, noting today’s children are our future workers and business leaders. She said the future economic prosperity of Los Angeles depends on an educated and skilled workforce able to compete in a global economy.

"You can never start too early when it comes to educating your child," Schatz said. "Preschool is critical to assuring that children are ready to be educated from the kindergarten level and up. The business community probably understands that the most."

Dr. Ayala told attendees that the future of Los Angeles depends on the education of its children.

"If children enter kindergarten without being ready, they will likely lag behind throughout the duration of school, and that’s a big concern for parents and society as a whole," she said.

She noted funding cuts in education programs are an overwhelming concern, including in early education as she noted 70 percent of brain development occurs in children by age 7.

"We need appropriate funding and accountability," Dr. Ayala said. "Parent engagement and support from the business community is also crucial. Working together, we can ensure a better future for our children."