THE CASE FOR INVESTING IN YOUNG CHILDREN

State Costs Escalate When Kids Aren't Ready
Children who are not ready for kindergarten cost Minnesota's K-12 education system $113 million per year. That's the conclusion from a new study that calculated the increased costs for teachers, special education and school safety, plus the revenue lost when kids drop out before graduation.

Invest Early and Often for Maximum Results
You've probably heard this strategy before, but did you know it applies to preschool, not just your portfolio? "On productivity grounds, it appears to make sound business sense to invest in young children from disadvantaged environments," according to Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman. His work is cited in "New Research: Early Education as an Economic Investment" by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Heckman concludes that such investments "are likely to generate substantial savings to society and to promote higher economic growth by improving the skills of the workforce."

What's the Fed Got To Do With It?
Jeffrey Lacker, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, said the evidence is compelling that investments in early childhood education lead to better educated and more highly-skilled adults during a recent presentation to Fairfax Futures' business and foundation partners.

More Bang for the Buck
In the past, public spending on children began at age 5 or 6, when they entered school. Now, a majority of states are investing in pre-K education. A new report examines shifting attitudes and identifies sound opportunities for public investment in programs for young children. "Supporting Young Children and Families: An Investment that Pays," is available from Brookings.