I know those are big numbers. I also know that most countries are not in a position to fund early childhood education at that level. But the investment is more than worth the price. That s because every child we get into Head Start is one less child on the road to poverty with no off-ramp. I m not saying that for every child, enrollment in Head Start is certain to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
Nothing is that certain.
But I am saying that the chances of escaping poverty go up. I don t have all the answers on where that money should come from although there are two international bankers sitting behind me. But I do have some answers on how to get the most out of the investments you make in early childhood education. These are lessons learned primarily from our three and one-half decades of experience with Head Start. I call these Donna Shalala s Six Lessons for Children to Grow By.