High-Quality Early Childhood Education
Matters, and it Matters to Arizona Voters
Research shows that the first five years are the most critical in the development of a child’s brain. And, as children grow, achievement gaps can develop well before they even begin kindergarten.
A 2018 report shows that nearly half of all Arizonans live in a child care desert, making it difficult for parents to participate in the workforce.¹
What Do Voters Prioritize as Top Issues
During the Election?⁸
69.6%
strongly support providing support and resources to fix underperforming schools
88.2%
strongly support making sure students are proficient in math
88.2%
strongly support making sure students can read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade
90.2%
strongly support every school having quality teachers and principals
SHORT-TERM IMPACTS
FACT:
$1.2 Billion
in revenue lost annually due to employee absenteeism as the result of child care breakdowns.²
ARIZONA VOTERS:
76% Agree
the state should invest in high-quality early childhood education opportunities for children from birth to five.³
BUSINESS COMMUNITY:
$1 invested
in high-quality early childhood education programs can lead to $16 back in the pockets of the community.⁴
SHARE YOUR SUPPORT
Quality early education is good for families, for businesses and the economy.
"When it comes to the impact of high-quality learning, the data is clear, and voters support the investment. We urge our elected leaders, the business community and other stakeholders to support high-quality early childhood education policies that are proven wins for children and Arizona."
Melanie Mitros, Ph.D., 2020 Chair, Arizona Early Childhood Funders Collaborative
LONG-TERM IMPACTS
FACT:
Prepared for School
Children who attend high-quality early learning programs are more likely to graduate from high school and go on to attend college.⁵
ARIZONA VOTERS:
Overwhelmingly
Agree
66% of Arizona voters think the state should be doing more to ensure children begin kindergarten ready to learn.⁶
BUSINESS COMMUNITY:
16% Return
Research shows that investment in early childhood development can yield a public return of up to 16% per year, exceeding most other economic investments.⁷
INCREASE THE INVESTMENT
Additional investments are needed to provide access to quality early learning for Arizona children.
That investment means:
Increased
- High School Graduation
- College Matriculation
- Economic Development & Personal Income
Decreased
- Special Education/Remediation
- Dependence on Social Welfare
- Crime-related Costs & Incarceration Rates
Join Arizona voters in supporting affordable, high-quality early
education. Share these facts using our social media toolkit.
- A 2018 Center for American Progress report estimated 48% of Arizonans lived in a child care desert, defined as any Census tract with more than 50 children under age 5 that contains either no child care providers or so few options that there are more than three times as many children as licensed child care slots.
- The cost of absenteeism and turnover for employers in those states ranges anywhere from $414 million to almost $3 billion a year.
- 76% of likely voters said they support the state investing in high-quality early childhood education opportunities for children from birth to five years old, according to a newly released survey completed by Moore Information Group.
- $1 invested in high-quality early childhood education programs can lead to $16 back in the pockets of the community. That return can be seen in the form of reduced special education needs, higher rates of grade level retention, reduced incarceration rates, improved health, positive education and employment outcomes.
- Researchers from five universities, led by the Harvard Graduate School of Education, analyzed 22 high-quality studies, which were conducted between 1960 and 2016. This meta-analysis found that children who attended high-quality ECE programs were less likely to be placed in special education, less likely to be retained in a grade, and more likely to graduate from high school than peers who didn’t attend such programs.
- 66% of likely voters think the state should be doing more when it comes to ensuring children in Arizona begin kindergarten with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. Other findings highlighted voters’ concern with quality, availability and the cost of early childhood education.
- Further, due to public benefits from reduced societal costs and increased tax revenue, early human capital investments yielded a public return of up to 16% per year, far exceeding that of most public projects undertaken for economic development.
- Education Forward Arizona Survey 2022