Investing in early childhood education and care has a high return — $16 for every $1 spent due to reduced costs in crime, welfare and special education.

This was one statistic presented to Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., by Sharon Palmer of Lambros ERA Real Estate in Missoula, from a report titled “Ready to Compete,” created by the nonprofit America’s Edge.

She was one of several business leaders who talked about the short-term and long-term benefits of investing in early childhood education and care with Baucus at the Discovery Developmental Center in Kalispell Tuesday.

Baucus also took time to greet Discovery’s 3- to 5-year-olds, read “The Very Cranky Bear,” for story time and sit down with them for a snack.

“What a treat this is for me to see you guys,” Baucus said. “Every child in Montana should have the benefits of early childhood education.”

America’s Edge is a national organization composed of business leaders who support initiatives that strengthen businesses through investments in children’s education. 

“It’s impossible to find that kind of return in the business community,” Palmer said. “These statistics show that early childhood care is the best investment.”

Dave Curry, Montana director for America’s Edge, said it is a matter of spending money effectively.

“The costs are so great later on,” Curry said. “Do we spend some money now or a lot more later on? Either we’ll be building more prisons — or taking care of our children’s needs early on to prevent those consequences is critical.”

The report also found economic benefits. For every $1 invested in early childhood education and care, $1.61 is generated in the local economy, according to the report, and the benefits are not just monetary. 

Children who participated in a high-quality educational programs compared to those who didn’t were 40 percent less likely to be held back a grade, 44 percent more likely to graduate from high school and four times more likely to earn a four-year degree by age 30.

Glen Wheeler, who is retired from working at Liberty Mutual in Missoula, said creating a strong future workforce through early education shouldn’t come as a surprise, but is often overlooked.

Beyond the economical benefits, he said early childhood education develops a love of learning at a young age and a desire for self-improvement.

Building strong social skills such as collaboration and communication — areas employers look for in employees — begin at an early age said Collette Box, director of Discovery Developmental Center.

“Brain development from birth to age six is tremendous,” Box said, noting that the type of environment and experiences children have up to that age will impact them throughout their lives.

“It’s good to raise the level of awareness for early childhood education because sometimes the focus is always on kindergarten through 12th grade,” Box said.

She noted that sometimes it’s easier to be reactive than proactive because the benefits of prevention are more difficult to quantify or prove.

Baucus said federal funding for early childhood education is one area not to be frugal in.

“All of us have a moral obligation to leave this place as good as we found it, that means investing in our children,” Baucus said.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.