What We Know
85% of the human brain develops in the first
five years of life. That’s a fact that cannot be
ignored.
Fifty years ago, we did not know that 85% of the brain
develops before the fifth year of life. But now we do.
Thirty years ago we had no evidence that the care we
provide for our youngest children would substantially
influence their success, or failure later in life. But now
we do. Twenty years ago we did not know the economic
burden that every New Mexico taxpayer would bear as
a result of inadequate preparation of more than a
third of New Mexico’s pre-school age children. But now
we do. The New Mexico Early Childhood Development
Partnership was established to spread that word, inform
the public and urge legislators and leaders, in both
public and private sectors to make a commitment to
children of today and those in the years to come.
It’s tempting to reduce funding for ECD because
of economic challenges. Our education system
is in dire need of continued reform. We must
start with adequate preparation of children be-
fore entering school. Expansion of programs is
desirable and needed, but maintaining current
investment must be considered the minimum.
In more prosperous times, thinking about, acting on,
and committing to the funding and support of early
childhood development programs should have been a
priority. Indeed, some very effective programs such as
Pre K were enacted. Unfortunately, under current
funding, only 15% of our state’s children and parents
are served, despite overwhelming evidence that proves
its value and impressive return on investment. Even
in today’s belt-tightening times, it is imperative to
fund comprehensive, inclusive, ECD programs so we
don’t short change our children. Top economists agree
that investment in children in the early years is
amongst the best investments we can make in our
communities and in our country. Human capital is the
currency of tomorrow and we must invest now.
Economic Reality
Social justice
We either pay now or pay (much more) later.
Investment in ECD pays big returns. It is
estimated that $6.17 is returned to society
for every dollar spent on PreK alone. That’s over
$15,000 per child. Savings on crime and welfare
costs, and expansion of personal earnings.
If we don’t invest in our youngest New Mexicans
now, we will continue to pay a big price. Instead of
financing PreK, parent support and home visitation
programs, we will pour money into prisons and
welfare programs. Instead of helping to build our
state’s economic future, we will expand poverty and
create future drains on an already stressed criminal
justice system. Instead of building the workforce of
the future that propels our state, we will guarantee
our place at the bottom of the productivity heap.
The state’s dropout rate is amongst the worst in the
nation. With a 61% graduation rate it is no wonder
that we continue to suffer economically. An ill prepared
child entering Kindergarten today will fall be-
hind quickly, beginning on a predictable path to
failure. Invest now or pay later. The choice is clear.
Social justice
Without adequate funding for early childhood
programs, schools will continue to be burdened
by unprepared children who are destined to fol-
low a path of failure. The good news:
children who are school-ready, will get
better math, literacy and vocabulary scores.
If economics isn’t enough reason to support a robust,
Early Childhood Development program, then equality,
fairness and social justice is. Many five year olds
will enter Kindergarten with a probability of failure,
due to harmful prenatal practices, substandard
parenting skills, nutritional, health and other
environmental inadequacies already handicap
children. A five year old, insufficiently prepared
will likely fall behind quickly. A continuum of poor
performance is likely to follow and failure to reach
appropriate reading levels or achieve grade appropriate
math and literacy scores will ensure academic
and social decline. This is not the fault of the child,
and it is preventable. We must do everything possible
to give every child in New Mexico an equal chance
to succeed and flourish.