BESSEMER -- Fighting crime can be just as easy as giving your kids a high quality, early education program. That's what members of the Great Start program believe. Law enforcement met with them at Washington School in Bessemer to show their support.
They believe that if you invest in your children earlier, you can help them become a more successful adult.
What if you didn't send your children to early education?
"They're way behind," said Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tracie Wittla. "They don't have the academic and social skills that the other kids have, and they start to lose interest in school. They don't try anymore, and unfortunately, that takes them down the wrong path, so to speak, and sometimes they turn to delinquent behaviors and high-risk behaviors."
A study shows that these criminal behaviors can cost $2.5 million on average for kids that drop out of school and use drugs. That's why they urge parents to start their child's education as early as possible.
"When you're helping a 3 or 4 year old and get the services and programs that they need in order to be ready to enter kindergarten, it's a lot different than helping a 13 or 14 year old who may not have all of the pieces they need in order to be successful," said GSC Director Allison Liddle.
Some parents saved over $80,000 a child by putting them into preschool and avoiding educational problems later on.
Early education is now at risk due to state budgeting challenges.
Organizers of the Great Start collaborative are hoping that government funding will not only continue but increase so that this opportunity will remain available to children for years to come.
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