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What Difference Does it Make?
- We now know that children who attend preschool are more likely to graduate from high school, less likely to repeat a grade, and less likely to be arrested as a juvenile
- Pre-kindergarten programs set the foundation for learning through teaching the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic- all skills that will benefit children throughout their entire lives, both scholastically and professionally
- States have found that those who attend pre-kindergarten programs are 41% less likely to require special education services than their peers who did not—vital to saving money in school districts and for taxpayers
- 90% of brain growth occurs before kindergarten which reinforces the idea that children who STARS behind, stay behind
- Students enrolled in high quality preschool programs do better from grades K-12 on achievement tests than children who were not
Long-term Impacts and Societal Impacts
- Investment in early learning produces similar outcomes to that of higher education: better educated adults which leads to higher tax receipts and more money in the economy, as well as more productive workers/employees
- For every $1 that is invested in early learning and education that is high-quality, taxpayers save up to $12
- Pre-Kindergarten helps prevent crime and reduce delinquency. Studies have found that children are 70% less likely to be arrested for a violent crime by age 18 than their peers who have not taken advantage of high quality Pre-K programs.
- Pre-kindergarten results in savings for society because it has been found to reduce teenage pregnancies which in-turn reduces the need for welfare and federal public assistance services
We also know that:
- Among children 5 years old, one in six lives in poverty, affecting school readiness One third of children entering kindergarten do not know the letters of the alphabet and more than one half do not know basic math skills. One in three does not know how to pay attention in class.
- One third of children entering kindergarten do not know the letters of the alphabet and more than one half do not know basic math skills. One in three does not know how to pay attention in class.
- Quality early care and education helps parents feel more secure in knowing that their children are safe which leads to happier and more productive workers
