Now for Later
An Early Learning Campaign
Early Learning is a Business Concern
• We must EDUCATE, GRADUATE, TRAIN every potential
child born in Missouri to ensure the workforce needed in
Missouri to attract companies.
• When companies look to locate to Missouri they look for
infrastructure:
– ENERGY
– TRANSPORTATION
– A WELL EDUCATED AND AMPLE LABOR POOL
– QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES
Supporting Today’s Workforce
High-quality early childhood programs allow
parents to go to work confident their children
are in safe, nurturing environments.
Good early childhood programs:
– reduce employee absenteeism
– increase productivity
– encourage recruitment, retention
The Importance of
Workforce Development
• In a few short years, China will have the most
people fluent in the English language.
• 25% of India’s population with the highest IQ is
greater than the total population of the U.S.
• India graduates more honor students than the U.S.
has children.
• The U.S. is losing up to 30% of its potential workers
because they don’t graduate from high school.
BUSINESS PEOPLE THINK . . .
A survey of business persons found that:
o 92.5% think early learning begins from birth to age 3.
o 100% consider the parent’s role to be extremely
important.
o 97.3% consider early childhood education to be
important in the long-term success of a child.
(Pulse Communication contacted 67 business people from
around the state to gain an understanding of what they
know and believe about early childhood education.)
How strongly do you believe the link
between early learning and future
workforce/business success is?
81% reported the linkage to be strong/very strong
Returns to a Unit Dollar Invested
Heckman & LaFontaine (2007)
Early Investments Offer
Greater Return
Research shows early
experiences shape brain
development, lay the
foundation for all future
learning, behavior, success.
Rate of return for an investment in high-quality early learning programs is
substantially higher than that of job training programs later in life.
An Early Learning Campaign
The preparation starts now
www.nowforlater.org
THE FACTS
• The most cost-effective route to strengthening the
workforce is to invest in early education, according to
Nobel prize-winning economist Dr. James Heckman.
Investing $6,000 per child has a “lifetime societal benefit”
of up to $69,000. A ROI greater than 10:1.
• Achievement gaps can be identified in children as young
as nine months of age, but research indicates most, if not
all, of the gap found at age five and age eight could be
eliminated by an intensive two-year early childhood
program for infants and toddlers.
TAKE PART
• Learn about the importance of early learning.
• Write an op-ed to your local newspaper.
• Contact your local and state leaders letting them
know you support early learning.
• Organize an event to educate others about the
importance of early learning.
PRINT ADVERTISEMENTS/
FLIERS
Print advertisements/fliers can be included in:
• Newspapers
• Business Journals
• Banner Ads on the Web
• “Now for Later” Website
• Direct Mail
Each has text about investing NOW
for a productive workforce LATER.
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What can you do?
• Be an active voice in the community about the
importance of early childhood education.
• Speak with legislators and other business
leaders and convey the importance of increased
funding for early childhood education.
THANK YOU . . .
to DESE’s Early Learning partners.
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Alliance for Childhood Education
Association for the Education of Young
Children of Missouri
Center for Family Policy & Research
Child Care Aware® of Missouri
First Chance for Children
Head Start - State Collaboration Office
LUME Institute
Metropolitan Council on Early Learning
Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Missouri Coalition for School Readiness
Missouri Coordinating Board for Early
Childhood
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Missouri Department of Corrections
Missouri Head Start Association
Missouri School Boards’ Association
MU ParentLink
Parents as Teachers National Office
Partnership for Children
St. Louis Regional Early Childhood Council
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Missouri Scholarship
University City Children’s Center
Vision for Children at Risk
The MU students from Pulse Communications who created this campaign
(Laura Schembre, Daniel Trivinos, Whitney Taryle, and Meredith Young).
Contact Us
Website: nowforlater.org
Email: communications@dese.mo.gov
Phone: (573) 751-3469
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. Inquiries related to
Department programs and to the location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible by persons with disabilities may be directed to the Jefferson State Office Building, Office of the General Counsel,
Coordinator – Civil Rights Compliance (Title VI/Title IX/504/ADA/Age Act), 6th Floor, 205 Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480; telephone number 573-526-4757 or TTY 800-7352966; fax number 573-522-4883; email civilrights@dese.mo.gov.
© 2012 Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education