Seismic ideological shift toward preschool

Seismic ideological shift toward preschool

Republican governors and lawmakers who control state capitols have been pushing aggressively to cut spending and shrink government, but with one notable exception, writes David Lieb for the Associated Press. Many are pumping money into preschool at a rate equal to or exceeding Democratic counterparts. The push reflects a widespread determination among conservatives that this part of the social safety net deserves more governmental help, a trend that could mean creation of a new educational entitlement at a time when both parties are concerned about entitlement program costs. For the GOP, preschool spending will likely have positive political consequences: Research indicates preschool help appeals to the blue-collar voters important to broadening the party's base of support. State funding to help families afford preschool plunged during the recession but has surged back and is now $400 million higher than before the downturn, according to the Education Commission for the States. James Heckman, a Nobel Prize-winner in economics at the University of Chicago (home to Milton Friedman), has calculated that money spent on quality preschool for disadvantaged children generates an annual 7 to 10 percent return by boosting their eventual wages and reducing likelihood of their ending up in prison or in costly social welfare programs. Fewer than half of the nation's 3- and 4-year-olds attend publicly funded preschool. More

Source:  Public Education News Blast

Published by LEAP

Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is an education support organization that works as a collaborative partner in high-poverty communities.

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