State preschool programs save $1B a year in crime, education costs

State preschool programs over the past 25 years are saving the state $1 billion this year in crime and education costs, with increased productivity, according to a new study announced by state school superintendent Mike Flanagan and early childhood development advocates.

Flanagan said the study shows the state should spend much more than it does getting prekindergarten children ready for school, which would produce more far reaching benefits.

“In a K-12 system, we spend $`1 billion a grade, but we don’t spend anywhere close to that where it would get the biggest bang for the buck” which is preschool programs, Flanagan said.

BY CHRIS CHRISTOFF
FREE PRESS LANSING BUREAU

Full Story: http://www.freep.com/article/201001251322/NEWS06/100125039