Early Childhood Educators: Our Partners in Crime Prevention in Massachusetts

The law enforcement members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids in Massachusetts recognize that early childhood education can be a powerful means of giving at-risk children the right start in life and helping them avoid becoming involved in crime later in life.

Research demonstrates that to achieve these outcomes, programs must be high quality, with qualified teachers, developmentally-appropriate standards and curricula, appropriate teacher-child ratios, small class sizes, and developmental screenings with referral to needed services. One of the most essential preschool quality features is highly-qualified teachers: well-trained before and during their teaching careers, as well as well-compensated.

Massachusetts policymakers must address workforce quality to ensure that early childhood education’s crime prevention potential is achieved.