Tough economic times make for tough decisions.
As members of Congress debate a massive economic recovery package to jump-start our struggling economy, they will have to decide which programs deserve public funding and which do not.
They are not looking to simply pump money into the economy, but rather to make smart investments that will reap dividends today and well into the 21st Century.
This is why it is critical that Congress include funding for quality early childhood education in this economic recovery effort.
President Obama understands that the impact of a comprehensive Zero to Five plan can stimulate short-term economic growth while planting the seeds for long-term economic recovery. That's why the president has pledged $10 billion in investments in early education.
This can be accomplished by directing $2 billion to Head Start and Early Head Start, $2 billion to child care and development block grants, and the remainder through the 2010 federal budget. Making good on this pledge by including it in the economic recovery package is entirely appropriate and will have an immediate impact on the economy.
By investing $10 billion it will not only provide quality childhood education to our nation's most at-risk children, but this cash infusion will stimulate the child health-care field, which boasts nearly two million American workers.
In Montana, the number of jobs directly related to the children's health-care sector is conservatively pegged at 8,740. For every two jobs created in the child health care sector through this economic stimulus, one would be created by the economy through a multiplier effect.
Investing in early care and education also helps the economy by providing crucial relief to financially struggling young American families who would either have to pay budget-busting amounts of tuition for child care, quit their jobs, or leave their children in dangerous circumstances.
Many people simply cannot afford to work because they cannot afford child care, which can typically cost $16,000 a year for two young children.
Montana child-care costs are seventh highest in the nation for preschool children and after-school children, and 10th highest for infants.
Most states have waiting lists for child-care financial support, but Montana does not. We do not because we have one of the lowest eligibility thresholds in the nation, much lower than would be permitted by national regulations. But due to under-funding, child-care assistance serves only one in seven eligible children nationwide.
Because Montana's eligibility cutoff is so low, we serve even fewer. This means about 12 million eligible, American children have fallen through the cracks.
Because of the lack of financial support, Head Start can serve only half of eligible 3- and 4-year-olds kids, and the very effective Early Head Start can serve less than 5 percent of eligible infants and toddlers.
The long-term economic ramifications of investing in quality preschool education also cannot be ignored.
Children who attend earn more income and are more likely to earn a college degree. They are also less likely to abuse illegal drugs and become dependent on welfare.
Every year that goes by with low preschool enrollment for at-risk kids will contribute to long-term problems that our state clearly cannot afford.