Policy Priorities
Investing in Our Youngest Children
In 2010, America’s Edge is focusing on proven programs with the highest returns on investment for businesses – programs that target children from the age of birth to five. The foundation for social and fundamental education skills is developed during a child’s earliest years. Ensuring high-quality early care and education programs for all children in America is critical to sustaining and strengthening businesses, the economy, and communities.
“High-quality early education helps cultivate the skills our future workforce needs by giving young children a solid foundation in critical early social skills and academic skills necessary for success in the future workplace.”
-Julia Christian, Executive Director, CHAMPS (Capital Hill’s Chamber of Commerce), Washington, D.C.
Employers need to hire people who have the hard skills – reading, writing and math – and the soft skills – the ability to be communicators, collaborators and critical thinkers. Research confirms the most important factor in developing these skills is quality early care and education programs – and the earlier we start, the better the outcomes.
Children who participate in these programs will:
- Increase pre-math skills by 21%;
- Increase pre-reading skills by 52% – 74% for low-income children;
- Cut special education placements by 43% ;
- Increase graduation rates by 44%; and
- Increase median earnings by 36%.
Investing in High School Students
In 2010, America’s Edge is focusing on a skills building and job training model known as “Career Academies,” because strong evidence demonstrates that it has a positive earnings impact for youth. These schools:
- Provide internships and experience for youth who have a desire to gain practical job skills;
- Provide job training and high school education curricula that will allow students to continue beyond high school; and
- Serve youth from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds.
Research shows that youth who participated in Career Academies were making 11% more money and working 12% more hours per week than those not in the program. Higher earnings translate into more buying power, which is good for local businesses, and higher tax revenues, which is good for communities.