The Benefits and Limitations of Preschool
Monday, August 27, 2007; Page A12
Maria Glod's excellent article ["The Preschool Question: Who Gets to Go? Va. Expansion Efforts Highlight Debate," front page, Aug. 22] missed an essential point in the debate over universal vs. targeted pre-kindergarten. High-quality pre-K, whether it serves low-income children or all children, pays for itself over time, making it an exceptionally sound public investment. Children from poor, middle-income and upper-income families benefit from pre-K because they will require less special education, will be less likely to repeat a grade or need child welfare services, and will graduate from high school and attend college at higher rates. Once they are in the labor force, their incomes are higher, as are the taxes they pay back to society.
As juveniles and as adults, the products of pre-K are less likely to engage in criminal activity, thereby cutting the enormous cost of crime to society. Reducing the need for public expenditures on education, criminal justice and welfare and increasing tax revenue eventually outweighs the costs of pre-K. The bottom line is unambiguous: All of society benefits from publicly financed high-quality pre-K.
ROBERT G. LYNCH
The writer is a research associate at the Economic Policy Institute and a professor of economics at Washington College in Chestertown.
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Maria Glod rightly raised the issue of eligibility for children under 5 by September to join federally funded Head Start. She also noted Timothy M. Kaine's promise before he was elected governor to offer preschool to every 4-year-old regardless of income. But the promise seems to have been effectively scaled back. My daughter, who is 4 years and 9 months old and part of a low-income family, is on the waiting list for Head Start.
When I expressed my anxiety about the waiting list to a friend, he ridiculed me, saying that I had to apply with lower amounts on my pay stubs to enhance my eligibility. He laughed at me because I had presented a pay stub that included overtime but was still within the parameters of low-income parents. I hope my honesty doesn't cost my daughter a vital opportunity.
KRISHNA PRASAD SHARMA
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