Experts say economy needs expanded early childhood education. “If businesses are stewards of their regions, they will come to understand that early childhood education will pay off as an investment.”

January 16, 2006

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One key to closing that gap, they said, is investing in early childhood education - not only to make workers more productive now - but as an investment in the future.

A panel of economists and economic development advocates warned Friday morning that Wisconsin’s economy is in danger of falling further behind neighbors Minnesota and Illinois.

Speaking at a Strongest Links conference, Terry Ludeman – who retired Tuesday as the state’s chief labor economist - said Wisconsin is facing a demographic timebomb because of its aging workforce, a brain drain of bright college graduates and in-migration of too few workers into the state.

And he said the state must take steps to train and keep young people in the the state.

And he said any economic development program should include an emphasis on preparing kids before they hit kindergarten.

“Preparation works,” he said. “When kids come to school prepared, we can produce the most qualified students in the United States.

By Brian E. Clark WisBusiness.com

Full Story: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=52609

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Catch 'Em Young

It is a rare public policy initiative that promotes fairness and social justice and, at the same time, promotes productivity in the economy and in society at large. Investing in disadvantaged young children is such a policy.

James J. Heckman, Nobel laureate in economics in 2000, is a professor at the University of Chicago. This commentary originally appeared in The Wall Street Journal

It is a rare public policy initiative that promotes fairness and social justice and, at the same time, promotes productivity in the economy and in society at large. Investing in disadvantaged young children is such a policy. The traditional argument for providing enriched environments for disadvantaged young children is based on considerations of fairness and social justice. But another argument can be made that complements and strengthens the first one. It is based on economic efficiency, and it is more compelling than the equity argument, in part because the gains from such investment can be quantified—and they are large.

There are many reasons why investing in disadvantaged young children has a high economic return. Early interventions for disadvantaged children promote schooling, raise the quality of the work force, enhance the productivity of schools, and reduce crime, teenage pregnancy and welfare dependency. They raise earnings and promote social attachment. Focusing solely on earnings gains, returns to dollars invested are as high as 15 percent to 17 percent.

Full Story: http://www.tompaine.com/articles/200 ... m_young.php

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Early Childhood Education Endorsed as Economic Development Strategy http://www.matr.net/article-16895.html

Arizona Partnership Promotes Early Childhood Leadership http://www.matr.net/article-15097.html

Report Highlights Governors Leadership on Pre-Kindergarten http://www.matr.net/article-14516.html

Early education called business asset http://www.matr.net/article-14023.html

Arizona governor: Invest early in children - "The future will not be solved with bidding wars for big companies. The future has 10 tiny little fingers and 10 tiny little toes." http://www.matr.net/article-13464.html

Study Finds Early Childhood Programs Yield Exceptional Returns http://www.matr.net/article-12565.html

Education, not subsidies, brings prosperity, Fed expert says http://www.matr.net/article-10943.html

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