Members of the Santa Clarita Valley Rotary Club recently heard a call for action in support of efforts to increase accessibility to quality preschool education both locally and countywide, to better prepare children for school and to create a better educated future workforce.

Celia C. Ayala, CEO of Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP), spoke to nearly 50 Rotary Club members at Marie Callender's Restaurant on the Old Road. She urged them to join LAUP in its mission to make voluntary quality preschool more accessible to children in Los Angeles County, including in the Santa Clarita Valley.

"It's really critical that children start kindergarten ready and able to learn," she explained. "What we want to do is make a difference so that by the time children get to third-grade, they're proficient readers, proficient writers...It's beneficial for all concerned that we have an educated society in Los Angeles County."

Ayala, who heads the non-profit organization that currently makes it possible for more than 10,000 four-year-olds, including nearly 200 in Santa Clarita, to receive a quality preschool education at little or no cost to the their families, was the Rotary Club's guest speaker. Her message was well received.

Barry Gribbons, president of the Rotary Club, said Ayala's message of children receiving a quality education, including at an early age, is an important factor that will help shape our future society for the better. He said quality education is one way society could reduce the high level of incarcerations that is currently costing California taxpayers great amounts of money.

Ayala said it often costs families in Santa Clarita $12,000 to $15,000 a year to enroll a child in a high-quality preschool, making such an important education out of reach for many households. The only requirement for a family to enroll their child in an LAUP preschool is that they be residents of Los Angeles County, she explained.

However, Ayala said LAUP is facing budgetary challenges that could affect its future preschool program, and urged Rotary members and others to spread the word about the value of preschool in order to strengthen support for early childhood education and pave the way for potential future public funding.

"You care about your community," she told the Rotary Club members. "You have an opportunity and you can influence the people in the community...It would be beneficial for all concerned that we have an educated society in Los Angeles County."

Santa Clarita Valley residents interested in enrolling their children in an LAUP-funded quality preschool should call 866-675-5400 or visit www.laup.net.