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Patrick's budget supports children
The Republican, Letter to the editor by John Davis, February 6, 2013

While Massachusetts leads the nation on many levels of academic achievement, deep and persistent achievement and attainment gaps show that far too many of our students – particularly students from lower-income families, English language learners, students with disabilities, and many students of color - are being left behind.

In Springfield 60 percent of third graders score below proficient in reading on the statewide MCAS exam. Research tells us that 75 percent of these children will continue to struggle academically throughout their educational careers, greatly reducing their chances of graduating from high school, going to college or successfully participating in a 21st century high skill economy.

It is important that every child – not just some – has the opportunity for life success. Nobel Laureate and economist James Heckman tells us that “investment in birth-to-age-five early education for disadvantaged children helps prevent the achievement gap, reduce the need for special education, increase the likelihood of healthier lifestyles, lower the crime rate and reduce overall social costs. In fact, every dollar invested in early childhood education produces a 10 percent per annum return on investment.”

This is the basis of the Davis Foundation’s emphasis on investing in early education in our region. I applaud Gov. Deval L. Patrick for proposing substantial investments in high-quality early education in the fiscal year 2014 budget submitted to the House of Representatives. I applaud him for recognizing that we will not provide the opportunity for every child to succeed until we invest in children’s earliest years, when the path to literacy begins and the first evidence of the achievement gap emerges.

I urge our delegation and delegations across the state to approve the proposed investments in early education and care.

– JOHN H. DAVIS, Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, Springfield