California Anti-Crime Group Releases Report Supporting Early Education Funding

The Pasadena (CA) Star-News (3/28, Cruz) reports that Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California has released a report titled "Pay Now or Pay Much More Later" which "says protecting early education funding in the state could be a long-term solution to keeping children in school, reducing crime and saving money. The news comes as California grapples with difficult budget choices and may propose significant cuts to its preschool and transitional kindergarten programs, which serve 3- and 4-year-old children across the state." The report "cites studies in Chicago and Michigan, as well as data from similar programs in other states, showing that 'high quality programs provide solid evidence that preschool education is an effective way to get kids on the right path and avoid costly problems later.'"