Mississippi Law Enforcement Leaders Say Quality Early Learning Programs Reduce Violent Crime, Save Millions in Special Education Costs

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Mississippi Law Enforcement Leaders Say Quality Early Learning Programs Reduce Violent Crime, Save Millions in Special Education Costs

JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI (September 28, 2010) Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm E. McMillin and Hinds County Attorney Sherri M. Flowers-Billups today released a research report showing that investing more in voluntary high-quality early learning programs not only reduces crime over the long run but also saves millions of dollars in the states education budget in the short term. The report shows that investments in early education programs can reduce the need for special education placements and other K-12 education expenses when pre-k children advance to later grades.

The law enforcement leaders called on state policymakers to invest in high-quality early care and education. They also called on Mississippis Congressional delegation particularly Senator Thad Cochran, the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee to support increased investments in federal early care and education programs as the FY 2011 appropriations process moves forward. These programs, which will benefit thousands of Mississippis kids, include Head Start, Early Head Start, the Child Care and Development Block Grant and the Early Learning Challenge Fund.

The report concludes that investments in voluntary high-quality early education programs in Mississippi can:

Save up to $30 million in K-through-12 education costs by lowering the number of children requiring special education services due to behavioral problems and developmental delays;

Save an additional $30 million in education costs by reducing the need for children to repeat grades and by helping kids learn more effectively;

Reduce violent crime and save taxpayers millions of dollars more by reducing costs for corrections, welfare and other government-funded services.

My colleagues and I in law enforcement are well aware of the tough choices our lawmakers have to make when it comes to spending priorities, Attorney General Hood said. As a law enforcement leader, I know first hand that giving low-income, at-risk children a good early start in life can result in fewer of these children becoming involved in crime later in life.

Among the studies cited in the report is a long-term study of Michigans Perry Preschool that followed two groups of at-risk, low-income 3- and 4-year-olds, beginning in 1962. One group attended the Perry Preschool Program. The other did not. The study found that children who did not attend the high-quality program were five times more likely to be chronic offenders by age 27 than children who did participate. By age 40, the kids who did not attend the program were twice as likely to be arrested for violent crimes than those who participated.

The Perry Preschool program also helped significantly reduce the need for special education. Children who attended the Perry program were 43 percent less likely to be placed in special education during their K-12 years. County Attorney Flowers-Billups noted that quality pre-kindergarten programs help build core learning and social skills among at-risk children at an early age. Children who participate in quality pre-k programs require less special education in later years.

Special education is necessary, but expensive, Sheriff McMillin said. By investing in high-quality early education and getting more kids ready to start school, we can reduce the number of children who require extra educational services and save our school districts money in a tough economy.

While the report noted that Mississippi had taken steps to improve the quality early care through the Mississippi Building Blocks program, only 25 percent of all Mississippi 3-year olds and 38 percent of all 4-year-olds are served by publicly funded early education programs including pre-k and Head Start.

Mississippi spends more than $300 million a year on special education services, but has not yet invested in state-funded pre-kindergarten programs, according to the report. The new analysis shows that if the state and federal government, together with Mississippi parents, could dedicate an estimated $260 million to provide high-quality full-day pre-kindergarten for all the families of four-year-olds seeking to enter voluntary early learning programs, the state could save as much as $30 million in special education costs and an additional $30 million in savings from reductions in grade retention and kids learning more effectively. As a result, the total K-12 education savings could reach as much as $60 million a year.

The law enforcement leaders also noted that increasing investments in high-quality early education can add up to a total return on investment of as much as $16 per dollar spent over the long-term. These savings largely come from reduced crime and corrections as well as the educational savings.

Attorney General Hood, Sheriff McMillin and County Attorney Flowers-Billups are members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a national anti-crime organization of police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, attorneys general and violence survivors, with 81 members in Mississippi and over 5,000 members nationwide.

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