For Business Leaders

Research tells us that improving early learning opportunities is one of the smartest investments and commitments we can make both socially and economically. Experts estimate an economic return of between $4 and $17 for every dollar invested in high-quality early learning programs. By increasing the likelihood that children will be literate, employed and college-bound, we decrease school dropout rates, dependency on public assistance and trouble with the law.

 Children who participate in high-quality early learning programs get off to a strong start in school and are likely to stay strong throughout life.

Consider these facts about high-quality early learning:

 
  • For every child who participates in a high quality early learning program, the public benefit is $70,000 in avoided crime costs. (America’s Child Care Crisis:A Crime Prevention Tragedy. Washington, DC: Fight Crime: Invest in Kids – 2000)
 
  • The lack of available child care leads to employee absences costing U.S. businesses $3 billion annually.
    (Child Care & Parent Productivity: Making the Business Case. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University, Department of City and Regional Planning – 2004)
 
  • Financial investments in early learning programs produces annual returns that can exceed the stock market’s—and result in more savings to society than any other social program. A quality early learning program can offer a 12% annual return after inflation. (Early childhood development: economic development with a high public return. FedGazette – 2003)

Please invest in our future by supporting the early learning work that Thrive is doing throughout the state.  Together we can help children succeed in school and thrive in life.

Contributions may be sent to Thrive by Five Washington, 1218 3rd Avenue, 8th Floor, Seattle, WA  98101 or contact Madelaine Thompson, Director of Fund Development at madelaine@thrivebyfivewa.org or 206.621.5565. 

Thrive by Five Washington is qualified for tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Contributions to Thrive are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

 

General Early Learning Research and Information

Business Partnership for Early Learning
The Business Partnership for Early Learning (BPEL) is a coalition of King County business leaders stepping forward to invest in an innovative, research-based early learning strategy as a way to close the school preparedness gap.

Child Care & Early Education Research Connections
Offers a comprehensive, up-to-date and easy-to-use collection of more than 13,000 resources from the many disciplines related to child care and early education.

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
A leader in research on the economic benefits of investing in early learning.

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Washington
A bipartisan, nonprofit anti-crime organization led by the state's best-known police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys, other law enforcement leaders and crime survivors to help Washingtonians understand that our most powerful weapons against crime are the programs proven to keep kids from becoming criminals in the first place.

First Focus
Bipartisan advocacy organization committed to making children and families a priority in federal policy and budget decisions.

Institute for Learning and Brain Science (I-LABS)
Located at the University of Washington, I-LABS is an international leader in the scientific study of the developing mind and brain so that all children can achieve their full potential.

National Association for the Education of Young Children
Works to improve the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8.

National Institute for Early Education Research
Supports early childhood education initiatives by providing objective, nonpartisan information based research. Publishes annual State of Preschool.

National Scientific Council on the Developing Child
Is a multi-disciplinary collaboration comprising of leading scholars in neuroscience, early childhood development, pediatrics, and economics.

Society for Research in Child Development
Promotes multidisciplinary research in the field of human development.

U.S. Child Care Bureau
Supports low-income working families through child care financial assistance and promotes children's learning by improving the quality of early care and education and afterschool programs.

Zero to Three
A national nonprofit organization that informs, trains and supports professionals, policymakers and parents in their efforts to improve the health, development and lives of infants and toddlers.

Early Learning Program Development for Communities

Early Learning Coalitions
A network of statewide and local organizations reaching out with tips, tools, and connections for parents, caregivers, child care providers and communities.

Kids Matter
The State of Washington has created an outcome-based early childhood systems building framework. Three statewide system building efforts sponsored by four organizations combined to create one plan.

United Ways of Washington
United Ways of Washington is an Association made up of the 27 local United Ways in the state of Washington.

Washington State Child Care Resource and Referral Network
Information about on-site child care, family friendly practices, and workplace trends.


Publications

Big Ideas for Children: Investing in Our Nation's Future
September 2008 (First Focus) – Compiles papers by experts in economics and children's public policy on policy proposals for investing in early childhood and education programs, reforming the healthcare system for children, and improving children's safety, well-being, and environments.

Despite Grim Economy Most States Continue to Prioritize Pre-K Programs
September 2008 (Pre-K Now and Pew Charitable Trust) – Annual report from Pre-K Now found that, despite a slowing economy, the majority of states are standing firm in their commitment to pre-kindergarten programs and net state investments in pre-kindergarten programs will increase by more than $309 million nationally, to $5.2 billion, in the new fiscal year.

Early Childhood Development Directly Affects Economic Vitality
April 2008 (United Ways of Washington)

Impacts of Early Learning Childhood Programs
September 2008 (First Focus and Center on Children and Families, Brookings Institution)

Partnering with the Private and Philanthropic Centers: A Governor's Guide to Investing in Early Childhood
2008 (The National Governors' Association Center for Best Practices)

Report on Opinion Research
April 2008 (United Ways of Washington) A copy of this report can be obtained by e-mailing Erica Hallock, president and CEO of United Ways of Washington, at ehallock.uwwa@sbims.com.

The State of Preschool 2007: State Preschool Yearbook
March 2008 (National Institute for Early Education Research)