Investing in pre-kindergarten for all three and four year olds expands economic opportunity and builds a sustainable, homegrown workforce. Business leaders understand this premise. This is why the District’s own Terrence C. Golden, former President and CEO of Host Marriott Corporation, is a co-chair for the Pre-K for All DC campaign.

Investing in the Workforce of the Future
Quality pre-k for all is a strategic down payment toward the skilled, productive and homegrown workforce that the District of Columbia needs to remain a center of economic prosperity. For too long, employment opportunities have been as plentiful as the number of unskilled workers unable to take advantage of them. It is time we embrace policies that fundamentally alter this dynamic for the better.

Increases in Employee Productivity in the Present
The latest research confirms what is already common knowledge in the workplace - family members miss fewer days and are more productive when they are confident their children are receiving high-quality education and care while they are at work.

Increases in Tax Revenues
A pre-k for all system generates additional tax revenues from increases in employee productivity and long-term workforce development. If every three and four year old received high-quality pre-k, the District of Columbia would receive $27.07 million in additional revenue for each cohort of children who go through the universal program.

Growth of the Child Care Industry
Finally, expansion of pre-k will benefit the District’s child care industry. The National Economic Development and Law Center designates child care as infant/toddler care and education, pre-k education for three and four year olds, and out-of-school time care and education programs in for-profit, non-profit, and public settings.

As an integral part of family and community life in the District, this industry would benefit as a whole from improvements to pre-k provision. Through improvements in professional development and accreditation systems, the workforce will be empowered with the tools and resources to better care for all children.

The National Economic Development and Law Center is currently working on a District-level economic analysis of the impact of the child care industry on the local economy. Preliminary Findings for this report are due out in November.