Over the past decade, multiple studies have confirmed that
spending on high-quality early childhood education is a wise
investment and a successful hedge against poverty. Children who
attend Head Start, America's comprehensive early childhood
education program for poor children, are better prepared to
start kindergarten, less likely to be referred to special
education programs and more likely to graduate from high school.
They are also less likely to be incarcerated as adults and more
likely to be successful, contributing members of society. These
programs help break the poverty cycle. For every dollar we
invest in early education there is a return of between $7 and
$16. For this reason, even as President Obama and Congress
consider federal program cuts, sustaining and expanding funding
for Head Start should be a national priority. Alan Guttman,
Pikesville