Law Enforcement Leaders Visit Astoria Pre-K Students

On October 24, three Oregon law enforcement leaders led a special story time for more than sixty 3- and 4-year olds from 5 pre-k centers in the Astoria area. Clatsop County District Attorney Ron Brown, Warrenton Police Chief Matt Workman, and Astoria Police Chief Geoff Spalding also discussed a new research report while celebrating the recent state investment into prekindergarten through the Student Success Act, but stressing the need for more resources.

Before story time, these leaders released a new Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Oregon report titled Oregon Kids Soar with Early Education Investments, that reveals how quality preschool participation can boost math and reading capabilities and improve the social-emotional skills that prepare children for long-term academic success, high school graduation and crime-free lives. Some of research-proven outcomes of quality preschool programs discussed by the leaders and the new report are:

• Pre-k participation can cut by 81 percent the proportion of children at risk for problematic behaviors, while reducing the likelihood of later disciplinary infractions by half.
• Attending pre-K can also lead to higher achievement in math and reading, and participants may be 51 percent less apt to be held back in school.
• Preschool attendance can also reduce the likelihood by half that participants will be charged with a crime or serve time in jail or prison.
• Pre-k participation can achieve an average “profit” (economic benefits minus costs) to society of nearly $27,000 for every child served. Cost savings accrue from cutting crime and incarceration, reducing education costs and increasing future wages.

The state recently approved a $75 million increase in early childhood education funding over the next two years, which means that 5,200 more eligible children statewide will be able to attend pre-k through Head Start, Oregon Pre-Kindergarten, and PreK Promise. Unfortunately, there are more than 20,000 eligible children who will still not have access to pre-k. The report estimates that expanding access to 20,000 more children would save about $540 million over the lives of the children attending. Oregon’s early childhood education system still faces three major challenges in reaching eligible students: funding, access, and quality. Recommendations to address these challenges are included in the new report, such as improving facilities and transportation and increasing teacher pay.