Yields a high rate of return on investment
• Economists at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve calculate that early childhood education produces an inflation-adjusted annual return of 16%.
• Every dollar invested in pre-school produces $8.74 in benefits to society.

Spurs community economic development
• Strong life and job skills are critical factors in fostering economic development and attracting industry.
• Early childhood education is a large, growing industry employing over 14,000 people in the St. Louis metro area.
• The availability of child care enables 48,000 other workers to get, keep and be productive at their jobs.

Provides economic opportunity for individuals
• Children who receive a quality early childhood education are more likely to succeed in school and, as a result, earn a good income, own their own home and pay taxes.

Improves the quality of community life
• Investing in the positive development of all children reduces educational failure, crime, drug use and violence---while lowering costs for health care, social services and remedial education.
• Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders of society and our future workforce. How we develop our children today shapes the St. Louis region of tomorrow.