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Health & Fitness

For Every $1 Invested in Preschool, the Public Has a $7 Return? What?

Obama advocated for universal preschool. His stats' were for every $1 invested in early childhood provides a $7 return --Is this true?????

In the State of the Union, President Barack Obama advocated for universal preschool. His stats were every $1 invested in early childhood provides a $7 returnΒ when that child is an adultβ€”in savings in social and justice services, higher of numbers graduate from high school, earn more income and are more committed to family. Actually, a 2004 High/Scope Perry Preschool Project reported an investment of $1 to a savings of $13.

What is missingΒ from the discussionΒ is whatΒ areΒ 'quality' preschools? Quality looks like: a lower ratio of adults to children, a child-centered curriculum, and family involvement. Some people believe regulating quality programs means that external agencieswill dictate what must be done. In actuality, there are aΒ range of strategiesΒ to deliver qualityβ€”not all preschools must look alike.

Our childrenΒ deserve equal opportunities to qualityβ€”there must be some common ground here in Missouri's political arena.Β 

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