RSG | Press Page: More Than Just Coloring

Billion-dollar Band Aids: That's how you could categorize much of Connecticut's budget on social services, special education, mental health, juvenile justice programs and prison. Some of the money spent on these issues helps people get better. Much of it does not, and would be better spent on initiatives that would prevent some of the social ills that wreak such havoc, heartache and human pain.

There is no one answer to such problems, of course. But there is one experience that economists are beginning to say makes sense to implement for all children — not merely because it's the right thing to do, but the cost-effective and smart thing for government to do. That experience is quality preschool.

Preschool is a great place for kids to learn how to color, make friends, count to 10 and learn their ABCs. But preschool as investment? Absolutely.

In longitudinal studies — some as long as 40 years — the difference between people from at-risk groups who went to preschool and those who did not in terms of stability, avoidance of prison, ability to get and keep a job, and money contributed to society in the form of taxes — is absolutely astonishing.

Arthur Rolnick, senior vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, said that the return on money government spends on preschool, on an inflation-adjusted basis, is an incredible 16 percent.

He spoke at a workshop at Pfizer Global Research & Development in Groton last week to let people in Connecticut know that the way to save real money in the long run, while making the state competitive internationally, is by investing in preschool for every child who needs it.

The state of Minnesota is establishing a trust fund of $1.5 billion to provide universal preschool. One-third of the money will come from government, one-third from business and one-third will be raised through private donations, Mr. Rolnick said. Much of the impetus is coming from the business community, because they see that in order for the state to be competitive, they have to have the best-educated and motivated work force possible. And to get such a workforce, people can't merely improve high schools or grammar schools. They have to pay attention to the experiences children are getting at the ages of 2, 3 and 4 — when their brains are being wired for learning, hoping, and believing in themselves.

It is a measure of Gov. M. Jodi Rell's vision regarding the long-term future of Connecticut that she understands how vital is this topic, and has appointed Janice Gruendel, president of Connecticut Voices for Children, to advise her on early childhood matters. Ms. Gruendel introduced Mr. Rolnick at the workshop.

It makes sense for Connecticut to consider paying for universal preschool for every child whose families could otherwise not afford it. The problem is two-fold: Preschool is expensive and it's a long-term answer to problems that are usually only considered on a short-term election cycle. And although the price tag for such an initiative — probably more than $100 million — would be quite hefty, the state would reap enormous benefits years from now.

The very title of the workshop gave away the framework for thinking about this problem: “Today's Children. Tomorrow's Leaders. Invest Now.” Clearly, Ms. Gruendel is helping Gov. Rell lay the groundwork for citizens to think about these issues in a serious way, one that is long overdue. It is a worthy goal for a new governor, one that will be a test of her leadership in the next two years.