Fresno Police Chief, State Assemblymember Visit High-Quality Preschool, Back Early Education To Prevent Crime
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 15, 2011
Contact: Meghan Moroney, 415-450-1913; mmoroney@calfightcrime.org
FRESNO State Assemblymember Linda Halderman (R-29) and Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer visited students at the Fresno City College Child Development Center today to see first-hand how high-quality early education programs prepare children for the future and keep them away from crime.
By providing children with quality early education, we help them develop the core learning and social skills that they need in school. As a result, they are more likely to perform better and less likely to ever be arrested in their lifetimes, said Chief Dyer, an Executive Committee member of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California a bipartisan, anti-crime organization led by 400 sheriffs, police chiefs, district attorneys and victims of violence. Unfortunately, not enough kids have access to quality preschool. Only 38 percent of eligible 3- and 4-year-olds in Fresno County are enrolled in state- and federally-funded preschool programs.
Chief Dyer and Asm. Halderman met to discuss the importance of high-quality preschool and the need for continued public investments in early learning programs. The public officials then toured the classrooms and read to the preschool students.
Research shows that preschool is one of the most effective crime-prevention strategies. A recent study of the government-funded Child-Parent Centers in Chicago found that children left out of the program were 39 percent more likely to end up behind bars by age 28, when compared to similar children in the program. In a similar study of the High Scope/Perry Preschool program, at-risk children who did not attend preschool were five times more likely to be a chronic lawbreaker by age 27.
High-quality early education programs serving low-income children have also been proven to produce significant economic returns. Over the long term, high-quality preschool can save up to $16 for every public dollar spent, with savings resulting from reduced crime, corrections and education costs. Preschool also helps cultivate a well-educated, skilled workforce by giving young children a strong foundation of social and intellectual growth.
Early learning programs allow children to develop a strong academic foundation, said Dr. Halderman. Inspired and motivated children grow up to become inspired and motivated adults. Preschool is not only important for kids, its great for economic development.
In light of recent budget cuts to preschool and child care, Chief Dyer, on behalf of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California and law enforcement officials from across the state, called for a restoration of funding for quality early education as a means of protecting public safety. The recently-enacted state budget eliminated $107 million in preschool funding, which translates to 22,000 fewer low-income children in state-funded preschool.
