Keeping the promise to Kansas kids.
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For more than a century, we’ve made a promise to Kansas kids. It’s a promise that children growing up in the Sunflower State will have the tools they need to reach for the stars and reach their full potential. But, as our state falls on hard times, that promise may be broken. Right now, proposals at the Statehouse would slash millions of dollars from the state’s most successful early childhood programs. These are programs – like Early Head Start, Smart Start, Pre-K, Parents As Teachers and many others – that are making a difference every day in the lives of children in Topeka and across the state. We simply can’t afford to let that happen. Here’s why:
Early Childhood Programs Grow our Workforce
Studies show that only 27 percent of at-risk kids will grow up to secure a skilled job, which not only puts that child in jeopardy of living in poverty as an adult, but also puts the state in jeopardy of not having the skilled workforce we need to attract and retain higher-paying jobs. Investing in Kansas children before they turn five years old will reap enormous financial returns. In fact, the Minneapolis Federal Reserve argues that the returns from investing in early childhood programs trump the returns we see from most other economic stimulus tools. Read more about the link between early childhood education and workforce/economic development.
Early Childhood Programs Reduce Crime
The best way to reduce crime is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Early childhood programs are proven to help put children on the right path. Research has shown that at-risk children who had not participated in a quality early childhood program were 70 percent more likely to be arrested for a violent crime before their 18th birthday. Read more about the link between early childhood education and crime prevention.
Strengthens Our Military
Right now, 75 percent of young Kansans (ages 17 to 24) are ineligible to serve in the military because they either haven’t graduated from high school, have a criminal record, or are physically unfit. These are the same young people we depend on to serve in times of need and ultimately protect our nation. When it comes to strengthening our Armed Forces, retired military leaders from across the country point to early childhood programs as a critical part of the solution. Read more about the correlation between early childhood education and military readiness.
Early Childhood Programs Grow our Workforce
Studies show that only 27 percent of at-risk kids will grow up to secure a skilled job, which not only puts that child in jeopardy of living in poverty as an adult, but also puts the state in jeopardy of not having the skilled workforce we need to attract and retain higher-paying jobs. Investing in Kansas children before they turn five years old will reap enormous financial returns. In fact, the Minneapolis Federal Reserve argues that the returns from investing in early childhood programs trump the returns we see from most other economic stimulus tools. Read more about the link between early childhood education and workforce/economic development.
Early Childhood Programs Reduce Crime
The best way to reduce crime is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Early childhood programs are proven to help put children on the right path. Research has shown that at-risk children who had not participated in a quality early childhood program were 70 percent more likely to be arrested for a violent crime before their 18th birthday. Read more about the link between early childhood education and crime prevention.
Strengthens Our Military
Right now, 75 percent of young Kansans (ages 17 to 24) are ineligible to serve in the military because they either haven’t graduated from high school, have a criminal record, or are physically unfit. These are the same young people we depend on to serve in times of need and ultimately protect our nation. When it comes to strengthening our Armed Forces, retired military leaders from across the country point to early childhood programs as a critical part of the solution. Read more about the correlation between early childhood education and military readiness.
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