Report | April 9, 2018

The $150 Million Benefit of Pre-K in Pennsylvania

Access to high-quality pre-k could cut prison costs and boost school success in Pennsylvania

The more than 5,000 law enforcement leaders around the nation who are members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids— including 175 here in Pennsylvania— have a direct message for everyone who cares about the impact and cost of crime: Pay now or pay much more later.

We are tough on criminals because public safety is our top priority. But if investing in high-quality pre-k keeps kids from turning into criminals, that both saves us money and forms kids into productive and lawabiding adults.

Thomas P. Hogan, Chester County District Attorney

Pennsylvania’s prisons are full of people serving time for serious and costly crimes. High school dropouts are more likely to end up in prison. But it doesn’t have to be that way: Providing at-risk kids with high quality early learning programs can reduce crime and the resulting costs, other expenditures, and long-term negative impacts on society.

Read More About

  1. Preschool

States

  1. Pennsylvania*