Federal investment in early learning would help revitalize Washington's economy

AS Sen. Patty Murray and the U.S. Senate Budget Committee look for the best possible investments to help jump-start our economy, we have a suggestion.

Consider early-learning programs.

New research from the business-leader group, America's Edge, shows that investments in quality early learning are among the most effective ways to infuse billions of dollars into local and state economies, while creating tens of thousands of jobs and building a foundation for sustained economic security.

Business leaders across Washington look at their bottom lines every day and critically analyze how to generate the most return from every dollar invested. The America's Edge research confirms that, across the state, we can generate nearly $2 for every $1 invested in quality early learning. That increased spending, in turn, creates jobs. Such a rate of return certainly elevates early care and education as an economic sector through which we can create real economic development for our state.

The America's Edge research also shows that investment in early learning will save Washington businesses millions of dollars lost every year because of absenteeism related to employees' child-care problems. On average, parents miss up to two weeks of work every year to deal with child-care arrangements. Not only will access to child care reduce the costs of absenteeism, it has also been proven to increase employee productivity — again, a big boost to Washington businesses' bottom lines on both sides of the balance sheet.

Our state's businesses will also be better positioned to attract skilled, educated individuals as the economy begins to recover. This is particularly important in our state, which has led the country in technology and innovation. Just as we need a quality K-12 system in place to attract skilled workers and new businesses to our state, access to a quality early-learning system is critical to families with young children who are deciding where to live.

And a quality early-care and education system that will bolster our ability to keep and attract skilled employees today will also ensure a future work force armed with the 21st-century skills Washington businesses will need. Businesses certainly want their employees to have the hard skills — math, reading and writing. Across the country, a lack of these skills is costing U.S. businesses in excess of $3.7 billion every year for remedial education services for their own employees.

And just as important as hard skills, workers need the soft skills — the ability to be communicators, collaborators and critical thinkers. And even in these tough economic times, many employers are having trouble finding workers with these critical capabilities.

In the years ahead, as baby boomers retire and the work force shrinks, we must ensure that we have a pipeline of well-educated workers with the knowledge, skills and abilities that are key to Washington businesses maintaining our competitive edge. And the long-term return on investment is one that cannot be matched by almost any other public investment — up to $16 for every $1 invested.

Early care and education offers something few sectors can offer as we analyze the best ways to utilize limited funds: significant short- and long-term economic benefits across the state.

Sen. Murray has always been a true leader for children. As business leaders, we will work to support her efforts, as a key member of the Senate Budget Committee, to prioritize in the federal investments in early learning, including Head Start, Early Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant, as a significant way to revitalize Washington businesses and our state's economy.