Early childhood education is the wisest investment

Funding early childhood education is not charity; it is the wisest investment we can make in our culture. Recent research by the Minneapolis Federal Reserve shows conclusively that, for every dollar invested in early education, society will realize a $16 return, because it dramatically reduces two of our culture’s highest expenses: special education and incarceration. More importantly, it would ensure that our children achieve the skill level required to do the jobs that will keep our country competitive in world markets.

Brain development does not happen by accident. The basic architecture of a child’s brain is constructed through an ongoing process that begins before birth and continues through adulthood.

The most rapid brain development occurs during the first three years of life. Early experiences literally shape how the brain gets built. A strong foundation in the early years increases the probability of positive outcomes. A weak foundation will require ongoing intervention and remediation that is usually much less effective and much more costly than providing effective brain-building interactions during the early years.

One effective way we can prepare our children to enter school ready to learn and succeed is to provide high-quality early childhood education to all children.

http://www.telegram.com/article/20111215/NEWS/112159707/1020