Investing in programs and policies that support early brain development yields significant returns for children, their families, and their communities.
From improved outcomes to economic savings for states and communities, the benefits of high-quality early learning are irrefutable.
Georgia’s children are falling below – or barely meeting – the basic standard in reading by the end of 3rd grade. On the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading test, just 32 percent of 4th graders scored at or above proficient. According to a longitudinal study commissioned by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, children who cannot read proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. Access to quality early education can help put these children on a path to success, which will have positive ramifications, not just for the children and their families, but for all Georgians.
To learn more about the importance of investing in a child’s earliest years, visit our Resources page.