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    Grand Jct. Police Chief: Cut Crime by Investing in Early Education

    Mar 5th 2009



    Contact:
    Matt Lambert
    National Communications Director
    Fight Crime: Invest in Kids
    202.631.0128
    mlambert@fightcrime.org

    GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. - FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS, a national anti-crime organization of nearly 5,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors and violence survivors, including 49 in the state of Colorado, held a news conference Thursday to release a new report that links the lack of high-quality early education with crime in Colorado.

    A long-term study of Chicago's Child-Parent Centers, federally-funded preschool programs that have served over 100,000 children since 1967, showed that at-risk kids who did not attend were 70 percent more likely to be arrested for a violent crime by age 18. They were also significantly more likely to repeat grades, drop out of school and collect welfare. The Child-Parent Centers cut crime, special education and other costs so effectively that it saved taxpayers $10 for every $1 invested.

    Grand Junction Police Chief Bill Gardner spoke during the news conference in support of efforts to cut crime by increasing education.

    "There is a direct link between youth who drop out of school and crime. Significantly, national research tells us children vulnerable to educational and social failure can be identified as early as the 4th grade," Chief Gardner said.

    Unfortunately, most Colorado kids can't attend such programs because of a lack of funding. In the 2006-2007 school year, 88 percent of Colorado's 3-year-olds and 71 percent of 4-year-olds were not enrolled in Head Start, state-funded pre-kindergarten, or a special education preschool program.

    President Obama has pledged to devote $10-billion in new federal support for early childhood education and care programs. He specifically cited early childhood as a top educational priority in his recent address to a joint session of Congress and also outlined plans for a new early childhood initiative in the administration's 2010 budget. The new proposal would provide grants to the states in order to increase access to high-quality early childhood development programs that promote academic success.

    FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS is urging Rep. John Salazar, a House Appropriations Committee member, and the rest of Colorado's Congressional delegation to support substantial increases in early childhood investments in the 2010 budget. The group also commended Gov. Bill Ritter, himself a former member of FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS, and the legislature for working to expand and improve Colorado's state-funded preschool system.

    The report shows that greater investment in early childhood programs will also promote economic development in Colorado both in the short and long term, the law enforcement leaders said, since funding for early education and care primarily supports staff salary and reduces crippling childcare expenses for working families.

    To view a copy of the report, click here.

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