Promise 3: Facts & Figures

Brain Development

  • Research shows that by age 5, 90% of a child’s brain structure has developed.
  • During the first years of life, the brain is forming connections that may determine a lifetime of skills and potential.
  • Brain development begins before birth and continues throughout life, but the first five years are critical.
  • Brain development takes place in stages but young children learn at a faster pace, and learn in leaps and bounds.1

Child Care

  • Research into the quality of current child care programs indicates that only 15% are of high quality, while 85% are of mediocre or poor quality.
  • A significant correlation exists between program quality and outcomes for children.
  • Research suggests that education of staff is positively related to the quality of care, however recent studies found that only a small percentage of teachers in child care programs have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
  • Child care staff turnover is high, it continues to be one of the lowest paid professions contributing to high turnover sometimes as high as 40% according to some measures. 1
  • Close to 70% of young children under the age of 5 are in some form of early care and education settings on a regular basis.
  • In 2003, a family of three could make no more than 66% of Florida’s median income, or $29,268, to be eligible for subsidized child care.
  • In 2001, Florida had 40,000 children on the waiting list for subsidized care.

High Quality Early Education Benefits

  • Research shows that children involved in a high quality early learning opportunity;
    • Did better than children not in a preschool program on achievement tests
    • Had better attitudes about school
    • Were less likely to need treatment for mental impairment
    • Were less likely to have to repeat a grade
    • Were more likely to graduate from high school
    • Were more likely to have a job at age 40
    • Had significantly higher earnings
    • Had significantly fewer arrests overall
    • Were less likely to be arrested for violent crimes or for property of drug crimes
    • Were Less likely to need special education2
    • Greater government revenue and lower government expenditure2
    • Had better access to health care, improved nutrition, higher rates of immunization and overall better health2
  • For every dollar invested in a high quality early learning opportunity there was a benefit of $7.00 to society
    • Including savings in educational programs, crime costs, welfare costs, and profit from taxes from higher earnings

Universal Pre-Kindergarten

  • Florida provides vouchers for 300 hours in a summer program and 540 hours for year round programs.
  • 134,583 (61%) of Florida four-year olds are enrolled in a Universal Pre-K Program (yearbook)3
  • There are 584 public providers of UPK and 3,602 private providers.
  • According to the National Institute for Early Education Research, all counties in Florida have at least one provider of UPK.
  • For every dollar the state invests into Pre-K the estimated return is $7.16
  • Investment in early education nationally could yield returns of up to $13 per every $1 spent.4
1 Promoting school success: Closing the Gap between Research and Practice. Child Development Policy Institute Education Fund. 2003. www.thechildrenscollabrium.com
2 Lynch, Robert G. Exceptional Returns: Economic, Fiscal and Social Benefits of Investment in Early Childhood Education. Economic Policy Institute. 2004. http://epi.3cdn.net
3 Barnett et al. The State of Preschool 2008: State Preschool Yearbook. National Institute for Early Education Research. http://nieer.org
4 Calman, Leslie J. and Linda Tarr-Whelan. Early Childhood Education for all: A Wise Investment. April 2005. http://web.mit.edu

*For any questions, or a full list of sources please contact Children’s Campaign at campaign@iamforkids.org*