Notable economists, including Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Nobel Laureate James Heckman, agree that preschool produces a very high return on investment. Studies have shown time and again that investing money in high-quality preschool will improve our country’s fiscal health by strengthening human capital, enhancing economic growth, increasing revenues, and decreasing future spending obligations. Children who attend high-quality early childhood education programs do better in school, are more likely to graduate from high school, and go on to earn more money than children who do not attend such programs.
Please join the Center for American Progress Action Fund and Senator Patty Murray (WA) for a discussion on the need to refocus the budget debate on our long-term challenges by prioritizing crucial investments such as expanding access to quality early education. As a former preschool teacher and now Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator Murray will share her unique perspective on these issues and the opportunities to make progress on these goals in the current political landscape.