Article posted Thursday, April 3, 2014 2:56pm

In honor of the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s Week of the Young Child (April 6 – 12), here are some details about the importance of early childhood education.

$7

Each dollar invested in quality early childhood education results in a $7 return because quality early education increases a child’s likelihood to do well in school, graduate high school, attend college or job training and potential higher earnings.

31

The average percent of turnover of early childhood education staff, due largely to low compensation.

60

The percent increase in potential earnings for an adult who had quality early childhood education as a child.

66.4

Percent of Wisconsin public school fourth graders unable to read at grade level (2013 figure).

$9,588

Average annual cost for a four-year-old attending an early childhood education center.

$10,500

Average salary of early childhood education teaching assistant.

$18,000

Average top-scale annual salary for early childhood education teachers.

Source: The National Association for the Education of Young Children; Children’s Defense Fund; National Dropout Prevention Center