Early Learning Campaign
**Nationwide Law Enforcement
Campaign Promotes
Early Childhood Education**
Police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors report that investing in quality early learning cuts crime, saves money
America’s law enforcement leaders oppose cuts to early childhood care and education. This spring, they will go back to preschool programs across the nation to express their support for early care and education programs for our youngest children. They say these programs improve public safety and save taxpayers money by reducing later corrections costs. Read more below.
YOUR TURN: Follow the campaign. Learn more. Take action.
WHO: Police chiefs, sheriffs and prosecutors nationwide
WHAT: National Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Campaign to promote investments in early childhood programs
WHEN: Spring 2011
WHERE: Early learning centers in communities across the country
This spring, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is launching a national campaign to promote wise investments in early childhood programs to cut crime and save money.
Since 1996, law enforcement leaders have been making the case that investing in the lives of children is critical to making communities safer. Research shows that investments in high-quality early care and education can be among the most powerful tools that we have to help children succeed in school and life and to prevent crime. This year, many early care and education programs are now in jeopardy due to severe budget cuts.
Law enforcement leaders are visiting quality early care and education sites in their communities, visit with the children and tell members of the media about the importance of these early learning programs.
WHY NOW:
Hundreds of thousands of children nationwide could lose access to these programs if Congress and the states do not prioritize funding for these programs during ongoing budget talks. State governments are also confronting their own budget crises, and early childhood programs like pre-kindergarten at the state level are also facing deep funding cuts.
Congress and state legislatures across the country are considering tough fiscal choices in the face of severe budget deficits. Law enforcement leaders are calling on state and federal policymakers to prioritize funding to strengthen and expand early care and education programs, rather than cutting these programs.
Congress is also in a position this year to renew the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the federal K-12 education law. Law enforcement leaders are calling on their members of Congress to continue their shift from the current “K-12″ system to a model that focuses on early education to high school graduation. By providing students with high-quality early childhood education, we will help build the strong, safe communities we need for America’s future and save taxpayer dollars in the long run.
###
Find the section where you fit, and learn more about our campaign to promote public safety by protecting funding for early childhood programs.
Media & Public
Visit our newsroom to learn about communities where our members are speaking out.
Contact our communications staff to place media inquiries for expert opinion or comments from our members.
.…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Researchers & Advocates
Browse our research reports to learn more about how high-quality early childhood programs improve community safety.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Policy Staff
Visit our policy page to find out what we support.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
For Our Members
Download our logo to display on your agency’s website.
Connect with Fight Crime: Invest in Kids using our networks to get updates and follow the campaign.
