Investing in early care and education for children ages 0 to 5 is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve the San Joaquin Valley's economy now, and in the future.
Early care and education programs produce important short- and long-term benefits for children, families, taxpayers, and the community.
On Thursday, regional and nationwide business leaders and economic experts will convene in Fresno to discuss why early care and education is a sound and necessary economic investment.
The San Joaquin Valley Regional Business Leader Summit on Early Care and Education will be an opportunity to hear from representatives from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Educational Employees Credit Union, UC Merced and others.
Participants will learn about the long-term benefits of investing in early care and education and obtain a regional perspective of the current state of early care and education.
In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and network with other San Joaquin Valley business leaders as well as representatives from the early care and education industry.
The early care and education industry is already an important community economic driver.
In Merced County alone, it contributes $33.5 million per year to the local economy and provides direct employment to more than 1,000 people, according to an economic impact study of the child care industry in Merced County.
Access to affordable child care and education programs allows parents to enter and remain in the work force.
Studies also indicate that employees who have access to high-quality early education programs for their children have higher productivity rates, less absenteeism and longer job retention.
Early care and education is also a smart investment in this region's ability to compete in the national economy.
According to a survey by the Partnership for America's Economic Success, 54 percent of U.S, business leaders believe that finding skilled and educated workers will be a significant challenge to managing their businesses in the future.
In order to ensure San Joaquin Valley's economic success, we must find ways to better educate our work force. Research proves that children participating in high-quality preschool programs gain lifelong skills and improve their chances for future job market success.
Investing in quality early care and education programs provides long-term educational, social and economic benefits for children, families and the community:
Children enrolled in a quality early care and education program are 70 percent less likely to commit a crime later in life;
The return on investment is high: Studies show that taxpayers save up to $16 for every dollar invested in future costs on special education, remedial education, teenage pregnancy and welfare payments;
Children who participate in quality early care and education programs have higher academic achievement, salaries and employee benefits than children who do not participate in these programs.
Quality teaching staff, activities and environments are key to successful preschool results.
Case in point: A Merced family's twin boys attended preschool in two different classrooms at a school in the Merced City School District.
Both boys benefited from highly qualified teachers who understood their needs. The program consistently delivered high quality developmentally appropriate activities that stimulated and challenged their sons, and the receipt of an Early Reading First Grant received that year at the school was evident in the curriculum.
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