"High-Quality Early Education: Cutting Crime and Saving Minnesota Up to $300 Million a Year in Education Costs"
Aug 31st 2010
SUMMARY
Minnesota spends over $1.5 billion a year on special education services, but invested only about $30 million in state-funded half-day pre-k programs in Fiscal Year 2010. The new analysis shows that if and when a combination of funding from the federal government, the state government and individual families can fund high-quality pre-k for all Minnesota families that would want it, at a projected total cost of $560 million, Minnesota could realize savings of as much as $150 million in special education costs alone. Because high-quality pre-k can reduce grade retention and improve the learning environment, the total K-12 education savings could reach $300 million a year.
Research shows that making quality early education programs available to all children can greatly reduce the need for special education -- with reductions in special education costs ranging from 6 percent to as much as 48 percent, depending on the programs and the students.
Backed by these numbers, law enforcement leaders are urging state and federal policymakers to support investments that would give more children access to high-quality early education, including more at-risk children. Not only can early education cut crime, but it also can help reduce the costs of K-12 education.
