December 2010
NYS Business Leaders Call for Investment in Early Childhood Education to Spur New York Economy
In this important video from Winning Beggining NY, New York business leaders discuss the importance of early childhood care and learning to our current and future workforce. They stress that investments in early childhood have short and long-term economic benefits for our state, its families, and future workforce.
Featured in the video are:
- Ken Adams, President & CEO, Business Council of New York State
- Kim Jasmin, Northeast Executive, JP Morgan Chase
- Tom Blumer, SVP, Corning, Inc. (retired)
- Gail Grimmett, SVP, Delta Airlines NY
Among the facts highlighted in the video:
- Two Weeks: The average working parent misses nearly two weeks of work each year because of child care problems. A report by Cornell University pegs the cost to companies at $3 billion a year. Yet when quality early care programs are available, businesses report less absenteeism and turnover, while enjoying greater worker retention and productivity.
- Corning Child Care Center: At Corning, Inc. executives discovered the attrition rate for female employees was twice that of men — and child care was often the culprit. They built a $3.5 million world-class on-site child care facility and estimate they save close to that amount annually by retaining quality employees and improving productivity.
- Birth to Five is a Critical Learning Period: Over the past decade, research has shown that 75% of a child’s brain growth occurs before age five. And children who attend quality early learning programs are twice as likely to attend college.
Recognizing New York State’s limited resources, the business leaders call for rigorous accountability and directing funds to early childhood programs with a proven track record of success.
Winning Beggining NY is a statewide coalition working to inform policy makers and the public about the many benefits of early care and learning including home visiting, child care and Pre-K. The coalition aims to build a broad-based constituency to make investment in quality early care and learning a top public priority in New York State.
Winning Beginning NY is co-convened by the Center for Children’s Initiatives, the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, the Early Care & Learning Council, and the New York State Association for the Education of Young Children.