The recently proposed budget cuts would eliminate Head Start programs around the state and decrease the number of children receiving Early Childhood Education/Intervention. As a previous post shows, early education leads to later scholastic success and even influences rates of future poverty (Duncan, Ludwig, & Magnuson, 2006).
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernake stated in a speech this month, "The payoffs of early childhood programs can be especially high. For instance, preschool programs for disadvantaged children have been shown to increase high school graduation rates. Because high school graduates have higher earnings, pay more taxes, and are less likely to use public health programs, investing in such programs can pay off even from the narrow perspective of state budgets; of course, the returns to the overall economy and to the individuals themselves are much greater." (Huffington Post)
According to Bernake, investing in Texas children's education is not only investing in their individual futures, but also our collective future as a State - particularly in areas of financial security and stability. Instead, we are creating a future of isolation, insecurity, and limited mobility and competitiveness for the those living in Texas. Eliminating these early childhood education program and opportunities is a failure on our part to think ahead and think about long-term solutions to our current economic issues.
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