Budget cuts could hurt local children
Since 2003, Pennsylvania has been investing in an early care and education system in Fayette County that aims at making certain that young children in our community are well prepared to start kindergarten ready to learn and ready to succeed. The current budget situation in Pennsylvania has the potential to chip away or perhaps even tear down the system so carefully constructed. The economic and educational repercussions could be devastating in Fayette County.
With state investments, children and families in Fayette County receive early care and education (ECE) services in many ways: child care subsidies, a full battery of Head Start services, resource and referral help, and high quality pre-k education aimed at preparing children for school.
Families benefit by having safe places for their children while they are working that also contribute to their education and development.
In 2007/08, over $4.8 million dollars in state ECE dollars came into Fayette County to provide support in one way or another for close to 2,000 children and their families.
In addition to direct services, these funds translate into a multitude of jobs, services purchased from local vendors, rent and utilities for classrooms and offices, and costs for transportation
The current state budget situation easily translates into something every household can relate to: we have more things to spend our money on than what’s projected on coming in.
In a family situation, we either cut spending or increase our income. In that situation, what we cut is limited by what we consider to be essential.
Increasing our income depends on what possibilities are available.
Some considerations for looking at proposed budget cuts and what’s essential in relation to early care and education:
Dollars invested in quality early care and education have a future return – some studies, such as the Perry Pre-School Study, estimate that every $1 spent on quality early education saves $7 in reduced future expenditures for special education, delinquency, crime control, welfare, and lost taxes.
Children who receive quality early education can overcome risk factors and do better in school, graduate, go to college and get good jobs.
They become productive members of society, join the workforce and pay taxes.
We need today’s children to succeed so they can generate tomorrow’s state revenues.
The success of our economy depends on the education of our children.
Quality early education is the necessary first step in a child’s education.
As adults, children from quality early education programs are less likely to commit crimes or require public assistance; and are more likely to retain good jobs and have higher earnings throughout their lifetimes.
The gaps in the educational benefits lost may never be regained. It is vital for Fayette County’s future for citizens to share with our decision-makers what we see as important and what’s essential to preserve in the state budget.
Bill Huebner is the Dads Matter Project Supervisor/ Early Childhood Community Education Group Coordinator for the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc.