Commentary; Posted: 4/16/03

Cutting ECFE makes no economic sense

Cheryl Smoczyk
Guest Columnist

Those of us who invest, have winced recently, as we read our annual investment return statements. What returns? Well, wince again, neighbors!

For in cutting the state budget, Gov. Pawlentyís proposed Early Childhood Family Education cutbacks will reduce our local ISD 831 ECFE budget by nearly 40 percent.

When research (see minneapolisfed.org) shows that investment in early childhood development programs brings a real (inflation adjusted) return of 12 percent and a total return of 16 percent, this is the wrong place to cut our investments.

When our state resources are limited, as now, there is no better time than to put our money where it reaps the most economic return. In our community, ECFE services about 73 percent of those eligible.

Because of sliding fees, everyone can participate, no matter their income or lack of it. This is democracy at its best working to provide an educated citizenry with equal opportunity for all!

Brain development is crucial in the preschool years. Trained educators in our ECFE classrooms are applying new brain development research and teaching these same skills to parents to benefit our greatest resource our children. ECFE early screenings help detect childhood learning, speech, and hearing problems when it costs the least to treat and when children benefit the most from intervention.Ý

When my children were of eligible age, our family attended ECFE classes and found enormous benefits, mostly, I suspect for me.

As a child from a home where abuse took place, I needed the support, coping and parenting strategies so that I could break the cycle of abuse. I found what I needed in ECFE and have since found other ECFE alumnae feel similarly.

If you, like me, have experienced the benefits of an ECFE class, write, call or email your state legislators today! Cutting wise investments makes no economic sense.ÝÝ

Investing in our children is investing in our greatest state resource. We all say things like that, or applaud when others do.

If you mean it, call 1-800-657-3550 to find out who your representative is and tell them why you support leaving funding for ECFE programs:Ý

ïBecause early intervention solves speech, hearing, and learning problems.

ïBecause they are a great economic investment in our children and future.

ïBecause they offer equal opportunities for all families.

Writer Cheryl Smoczyk lives in Wyoming.

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