Education

Missouri can be only as successful as its public schools.
A publicly educated citizenry pays for itself.
(Public Education)
http://www.epi.org/publication/states-education-productivity-growth-foundations/
The connection between education and income is strong. A high school diploma, technical college certificate, or college degree not only increases one’s skills and productivity, but signals to employers that the individual is motivated and completes tasks. A more educated individual is more likely to participate in the job market, to have a job, to work more hours, and to be paid more, and less likely to be unemployed
SOURCE: The Social and Economic Benefits of Public Education (2011), Dana Mitra
https://www.elc-pa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/BestInvestment_Full_Report_6.27.11.pdf
Research shows that individuals who graduate and have access to quality education throughout primary and secondary school are more likely to find gainful employment, have stable families, and be active and productive citizens. They are also less likely to commit serious crimes, less likely to place high demands on the public health care system, and less likely to be enrolled in welfare assistance programs.
High school dropouts are more than twice as likely to be unemployed and three times more likely to receive welfare assistance, costing billions of dollars nationally each year for government-funded assistance programs.
Decreasing the number of high school dropouts by half would produce $45 billion per year in net economic benefit to U.S. society.
Improved education and more stable employment greatly increase tax revenue, such as a return of at least 7 dollars for every dollar invested in pre-kindergarten education.
Forty-one percent of all prisoners have not completed high school, compared to 18% of the general adult population.
The annual cost of incarcerating an individual is about $32,000, while the annual cost of a quality public education is about $11,000.
A 5% increase in the male graduate rate would save $5 billion in crime-related expenses.
Graduating from high school reduces dependence on public health programs by 60%.
Average annual public health costs are $2,700 per dropout, $1,000 per high school graduate, and $170 per college graduate.
A 1-year increase in median education level is associated with a more than 13% jump in political primary turnout.
People with more education are more likely to have healthy diets and exercise frequently, and are less likely to smoke.
People who drop out of high school are six times more likely to abuse alcohol or drugs than people with a college degree.
People with higher levels of educational attainment have a lower divorce rate and are more likely to remain in stable, healthy relationships with their spouses.
Education increases voter participation, participation in volunteer organizations, and personal tolerance of different viewpoints.
SOURCE: The Benefits and Costs of Investing in Early Childhood Education (2015), Robert Lynch & Kavya Vaghul
http://equitablegrowth.org/report/the-benefits-and-costs-of-investing-in-early-childhood-education/
Investing in high quality universal pre-kindergarten improves economic growth, promotes opportunity, and eases a host of social issues.
It would take only eight years for the total annual benefits of a publicly-funded universal pre- kindergarten program to exceed its costs.
U.S. society would gain $8.90 in benefits for every dollar invested in a universal pre- kindergarten program.
By 2050, a universal pre-kindergarten program would yield $304 billion in benefits: $81 billion in government budget benefits, $108 billion in increased compensation, and $114 billion in savings from improved health and reduced crime.
Universal pre-kindergarten reduces socioeconomic inequality because its greatest positive effects are on the most disadvantaged children.
Well-funded public schools produce job-ready employees.
Educating our children is the ultimate use of Missouri tax dollars.
(Public Education)
http://www.epi.org/publication/states-education-productivity-growth-foundations/
Strong state education systems are good not just for the national economy; they are good for the citizens of the state.
Charter schools place the moral responsibility of education in the hands of profit-seeking corporations.
(Public Education)
The Little Blue Book by George Lakoff
On the whole, charter schools perform no better than public schools, and they place the moral responsibility of education in the hands of profit-seeking corporations.
SOURCE: The Network for Public Education (2017), Carol Burris
https://networkforpubliceducation.org/2017/01/charters-vouchers-hurt-public-schools-answer-yes/
When a public school loses a percentage of students to charter schools or a voucher program, the school can’t reduce costs by an equivalent percentage. The school still must pay the same
utility, maintenance, transportation, and food services costs. The school must still carry the salary and benefit costs of administrative staff, custodial services, and cafeteria workers. The school may not be able to reduce teaching staff because the attrition will occur randomly across various grade levels, leaving class sizes only marginally reduced.
In Nashville, Tennessee, an independent research firm (MGT of America) estimated the net negative fiscal impact of charter school growth on the district’s public schools result in more than $300 million in direct costs to public schools over a five-year period.
On the whole, charter and voucher schools perform no better than the public school system, and often worse. At they same time they have a negative fiscal impact on existing public schools, and are creating a parallel school system that duplicates services and costs.
ALL children deserve access to well-resourced public schools.
Well-funded public schools keep our Missouri communities strong.
(Public Education)
https://www.cfra.org/renewrural/s/desirable-communities
Small schools have long been a drawing card for rural communities. Communities that make a commitment to provide a quality education in small, community-based schools and invest in them will always have a powerful advantage in attracting young families with children.
Public schools keep small communities alive.
Investing in public schools pays all of us back.
(Public Education)
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/10/the-war-on-public-schools/537903/
Public education is a worthy investment, one that pays dividends not only to individual families but to our society as a whole.
SOURCE: The Social and Economic Benefits of Public Education (2011), Dana Mitra
https://www.elc-pa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/BestInvestment_Full_Report_6.27.11.pdf
Individuals who graduate and have access to quality education throughout primary and secondary school are more likely to find gainful employment, have stable families, and be active and productive citizens. They are also less likely to commit serious crimes, less likely to place high demands on the public health care system, and less likely to be enrolled in welfare assistance programs.
High school dropouts are more than twice as likely to be unemployed and three times more likely to receive welfare assistance, costing billions of dollars nationally each year for government-funded assistance programs.
Decreasing the number of high school dropouts by half would produce $45 Billion per year in net economic benefit to U.S. society.
Improved education and more stable employment greatly increase tax revenue, such as a return of at least 7 dollars for every dollar invested in pre-kindergarten education.
Forty-one percent of all prisoners have not completed high school, compared to 18% of the general adult population.
The annual cost of incarcerating an individual is about $32,000, while the annual cost of a quality public education is about $11,000.
A 5% increase in the male graduate rate would save $5 billion in crime-related expenses.
Graduating from high school reduces dependence on public health programs by 60%.
Average annual public health costs are $2,700 per dropout, $1,000 per high school graduate, and $170 per college graduate.
A 1-year increase in median education level is associated with a more than 13% jump in political primary turnout.
People with more education are more likely to have healthy diets and exercise frequently, and are less likely to smoke.
People who drop out of high school are six times more likely to abuse alcohol or drugs than people with a college degree.
People with higher levels of educational attainment have a lower divorce rate and are more likely to remain in stable, healthy relationships with their spouses.
Education increases voter participation, participation in volunteer organizations, and personal tolerance of different viewpoints.
SOURCE: The Benefits and Costs of Investing in Early Childhood Education (2015), Robert Lynch & Kavya Vaghul
http://equitablegrowth.org/report/the-benefits-and-costs-of-investing-in-early-childhood-education/
Investing in high quality universal pre-kindergarten improves economic growth, promotes opportunity, and eases a host of social issues.
It would take only eight years for the total annual benefits of a publicly-funded universal pre- kindergarten program to exceed its costs.
U.S. society would gain $8.90 in benefits for every dollar invested in a universal pre- kindergarten program.
By 2050, a universal pre-kindergarten program would yield $304 billion in benefits: $81 billion in government budget benefits, $108 billion in increased compensation, and $114 billion in savings from improved health and reduced crime.
Universal pre-kindergarten reduces socioeconomic inequality because its greatest positive effects are on the most disadvantaged children.