Fight Crime by Investing in Kids

There are many documented reasons why investing in early education is not just prudent, but provides the highest return on investment for dollars spent. Yet another compelling reason is this: investing in kids fights crime. In a recent report from the Council for a Strong America, the following stood out as particularly relevant to our goal at SVP Portland:

“We know that one of the best ways to keep young people from becoming involved in crime later on is to make sure they have a foundation for educational success in their earliest years. In particular, by providing access to high-quality preschool education for kids today, we can see less crime and incarceration in the future, while reaping enormous economic and societal benefits.”

More specifically, there are demonstrated economic benefits for universal preschool programs, like Multnomah County Preschool for All:

“An independent cost-benefit analysis of universal preschool programs showed that they can return, on average, a “profit” (economic benefits minus costs) to society of more than $15,000 for every child served (or approximately $3 for every dollar spent). The benefits accrue due to increased test scores, which are associated with higher earnings in adulthood, as well as decreases in costs to society, such as children being held back in school or needing special education.”

While Oregon has invested extensively in early childhood programs over the past several years, inequities to access remain, particularly for children of color and those in rural areas. This is why SVP Portland remains committed to ensuring that all children have access to high-quality, culturally-relevant early learning experiences, and why we joined the Washington County Preschool for All effort. Our support of this goal provides the earliest and most effective opportunity to increase the likelihood of positive life trajectories for our kids.