Oue Mission:

December 23, 2008

124 Maine State Legislature

Dear Maine State Senators and Representatives,

The Alliance for Children’s Care, Education and Supporting Services (ACCESS) realizes the fact that this upcoming legislation session will present real challenges for you and your colleagues.  However, in your deliberations concerning the direction for the State of Maine, we would encourage you to consider the finding of the recent Legislative Commission to Develop a Strategic Priorities Plan for Maine’s Young Children.  This commission found (to quote from the executive summary):

This Commission to Develop has concluded that investment in quality early care and education will yield significant benefits in the following areas:

            Brain development. The early childhood period from 0 to 5 years, and especially age 0 to 3 years, is the most critical period for positively impacting brain development and capacity for future learning.

        State economy. Investment in early care and education will yield short-term and long-term benefits for the state economy.

       State budget. Investing in Maine’s youngest children will generate significant cost savings for the state budget.

        Return on investment. At 16%, the rate of return on investment in early care and education is exceptional.

These finding are substantiated by a compelling body of research spanning the disciplines of economics, developmental psychology and neurobiology. It has become clear to the Commission that investing in Maine’s young children today will produce a strong and productive workforce that bolsters Maine’s economic growth and prosperity, will result in lower government spending, particularly in the criminal justice system, and will yield strong financial returns for individuals and society at large.  

Every aspect of this report was unanimous and bipartisan, a fact which underscores the urgency of the need for early childhood investment, and the Commission’s commitment to that policy. (Copies of the full report can be downloaded from our Web Site www.mainechildcare.org.)

We would simply urge you to keep the well being of our children as a component of your legislative decision-making.

Sincerely,

Bill Hager

Chair, Alliance for Children’s Care, Education and Supporting Services - ACCESS

Mailing Address:                                                                                                     Phone:

C/O Child Care Services of York County                                                            C/O USM Child and Family Centers

P.O. Box 512 Sanford ME 04073                                                                          (207) 780-5646

e-mail: info@mainechildcare.org

Visit Us On the Web at:  www.mainechildcare.net