Ready, Set, Go! Why Business Should Support Early Childhood Education
Posted September 08, 2010
“Ready, Set, Go! Why Business Should Support Early
Childhood Education,” ICW’s newest publication, sheds light on the
tremendous impact that early childhood education has on the national
economic security and the viability of the American dream. Focusing
heavily on the scientific research that has proven early childhood
education to be profoundly influential in health and well-being as well
as economic vitality for individuals and society, ICW attests that the
investment and support on the part of American businesses is imperative
to the success of the American workforce.
This report, funded with the help of the The Pew Charitable Trusts
and Knowledge Universe, focuses on early learning as an investment in
workforce development by supporting policies that proffer high-quality,
evidence-based learning programs. Additionally, the report provides
promising practices of successful early childhood education initiatives
throughout the country alongside a step-by-step guide businesses may use
to support and invest in early childhood education in their
communities. The business community has a prime opportunity to
get involved in supporting early childhood education -- now is the time
to act. An investment in early childhood education today will have large
impacts on a highly-skilled workforce tomorrow.
Download:
Ready, Set, Go! Why Business Should Support Early Childhood
America's Edge:
Strengthening Business Through Proven Investments in Kids
New findings released highlighting evidence from business leaders of the positive impact of investments in early childhood on the local economy. For more information, click here...
“Early childhood development programs are rarely portrayed as economic development initiatives, and…that is a mistake.” --
- Quality child care is vital for parents to be able to work.
- Quality early childhood education is key to success in school and in life.
- Helping the next generation break the cycle of poverty starts by giving young children a better start in life.
But experts say early childhood education is just as critical to building a strong economy and a strong workforce.
“Investment in human capital breeds not only economic success for those being educated, but also for the overall economy,” according to Art Rolnick
As Nobel laureate economist James Heckman says, programs targeting children from disadvantaged families have the greatest economic and social returns. Learn more here... Or follow the "Heckman Equation" here on Facebook!
The 40-year High/Scope Perry Preschool research makes the case that high-quality early learning experiences set children up for success in school, work and life. That research shows that investing $1 in a child’s success early on saves $17 down the road, with tangible results measured in lower crime, fewer single parents, and higher individual earnings and education levels.
Quality Early Learning REDUCES Crime Rates
Teenage Pregnancy
Welfare Dependency
Job Training Costs
Special Education Cost
Grade Repetition
Quality Early Learning INCREASES Success in SchoolGraduation Rates
Workforce Readiness
Job Productivity
Community Engagement
Longitudinal studies show that increased investment in early learning means states spend less in special education and juvenile justice services. Over the long term, state and federal budgets for welfare and criminal justice systems are impacted as well.
But as high-skill, high-wage jobs demand more from workers, the children who most need the tools for success are getting the fewest.
- 46% of America’s kindergarteners are coming to school at
risk for failure, according to the U.S. Dept. of Education. - The poorest children start school 1-2 years behind.
The Return On Investment (ROI) is clear: investing in early learning in children’s early years pays off. Heckman puts it this way: “Invest in the very young.”
Heckman argues that investments in children bring a higher rate of return than investments in low-skill adults:
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