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.