Star Tribune Covers Press Conference at the YWCA for Preschool Funding
Three sheriffs from Hennepin, Ramsey and Dakota counties rolled out their program “I’m The Guy You Pay Later” at a press conference at the YWCA of Minneapolis Midtown location on April 22. The sheriffs are calling on Minnesota legislators to invest a minimum of $150 million a year into early learning programs — either pay now for early childhood education or pay the cost later for crime.
The sheriffs cited research showing that quality preschool programs lower the likelihood that children from low-income households will be arrested for a violent crime before they turn 18. Statistics from the YWCA of Minneapolis Early Childhood Education program demonstrate that when children are given access to high-quality early childhood education they will succeed.
- 96% of YWCA preschoolers entering Kindergarten in 2014 were proficient in school readiness standards, with 56% of these children from households living in poverty and 80% were children of color.