Pre-K: What’s the return on investment?

As our country debates education, economic and job growth initiatives, state and local Chambers of Commerce must play a proactive role. One way we can do that is by promoting public policies with strong scientific and economic evidence behind them. None of us would try to improve our businesses or organization with quick fix ideas. Just as we would start from the beginning to solve a business problem, a key element to fixing our education system requires starting early, before children enter kindergarten.

 The Kentucky Chamber has joined with the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence’s Business Leadership Council for Pre-K, the Pew Center on the States’ Partnership for America’s Economic Success and the Institute for a Competitive Workforce in supporting efforts in increase investment in early childhood education and services. Why? The scientific and economic evidence is in strong support of a return on investment that can’t be overlooked.

 In Kentucky, early childhood education programs show a return of $5 for every $1 invested. Higher participation in quality Pre-K programs increases the number of high school and college graduates – enriching the quality of the workforce. The need for special education services is reduced, along with the number of teen pregnancies, juvenile offenders and cases of child abuse.   

Join the Kentucky Chamber in supporting the investment of high quality Pre-K programs in the state. For more information, take a look at the following web sites or watch the video below with a cameo by Chamber President and CEO, Dave Adkisson: www.icw.uschamber.com, www.parternshipforsuccess.org,  www.prichardcommittee.org.