Early Childhood Education

Research has shown that early childhood education increases lifelong earning potential, achieves better academic outcomes, lowers rates of teen pregnancy and incarceration, and improves the community's ability to recruit and retain parents who work---all of which provide long-term positive results and cost savings to the community.

The Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) is a statewide initiative that recognizes education begins at birth (not when a child enters school) and works to effectively focus early childhood efforts and leverage public and private support to expand the availability of high-quality early education and child care, including parenting education.

Early Childhood Education

The results of a Columbia University's Teachers College study, released in May 2008, estimated that those who drop out of high school cost Michigan taxpayers about $2.5 billion a year. Every student who drops out of high school costs the public $127,000 in tax revenues, public health costs, crime, and welfare payments. By investing in early childhood care, education, and development you can prepare a child to succeed in school and avoid some of these costs.

A small investment for a lifetime of returns!

The Community Foundation believes that early childhood education can improve children's chances for success in later life, thereby providing benefits to children, their families, and society as a whole. We recently created the Early Childhood Investment Fund to support the Branch County ECIC initiative and to provide a further giving opportunity for those with similar values.

For more information on Branch County Great Start, contact Amy Galliers via email or call (517) 278-5600.

If you would like more information regarding Early Childhood Investment Fund please contact us.