Editorial: Pre-K education investment would pay off big in long run

Such a program would prove costly, an estimated $200 million annually.

But the statistics make the case for the value of preschool education and suggest that, in the long run, the initial investment pays big dividends by eventually producing a higher percentage of productive, law-abiding adults.

Using information from a variety of studies since the year 2000, the Urban Child Institute, based in Tennessee, reached some eye-opening conclusions about the value of high-quality pre-kindergarten education:

— Those with a pre-K education are about half as likely, compared to those without pre-K, to be arrested for a misdemeanor or a felony by the age of 27.

— Of those with a pre-K education, about 76 percent are employed at the age of 40; compared to 62 percent of those without pre-K.

— Of those with a pre-K education, about 41 percent will never accept welfare, compared to about 20 percent of those without pre-K.

— Of those with a pre-K education, about 15 percent will need special education, compared to about 34 percent of those without pre-K.

All of these factors — criminal activity, unemployment, welfare and special education — are costly to society and to taxpayers who fund schools, prisons and welfare programs.

But Indiana is behind the curve in recognizing the value of pre-K education. It's one of just 11 states that don't provide public funding for preschool.

Education is one of the best uses of public money because, if administered well, it reaps long-term benefits for everyone. As Lanane urges, state legislators should take up serious discussions right away about a statewide preschool education program, so that money can be earmarked when the next biennial state budget is developed in 2015.

In summary Preschool education would be a good use of public money because, if administered well, it would reap long-term benefits for all Hoosiers.