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Lawmakers should learn about Educare

Morning Sentinel Staff

As a charitable endowment interested in the health and economic prosperity of Maine, the Bingham Program is excited about the opening of the Educare Center in Waterville. One of the most important investments we can make as a state, one that will pay big dividends within five years, is quality learning and care environments from birth to age five.

The basic architecture of the brain begins construction before birth and continues into adulthood. Early experiences within the first five years of life literally shape how the brain gets built and open the pathways to all social, cognitive and emotional future learning.

A strong foundation in the early years increases the probability of positive outcomes. Rigorous research demonstrates that children who participate in high-quality early learning programs are significantly more likely to enter school with the underlying skills they will need to succeed in school and in the workforce.

Perhaps surprisingly, they are also much more likely to be physically and mentally healthier as adults. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been linked to among others, heart disease, smoking, drug and alcohol addictions, obesity, teen pregnancy, early death and suicide. Think of the savings if we were able to prevent even one of those health impacts.

Educare provides the kind of high-quality experience that yields a 17 to 1 return according to Nobel economist James Heckman and research from the Minneapolis Federal Reserve. It serves as a model for effective learning.

Because it is wired for interactive learning, the center doesn't just serve the Waterville area. Rather, it provides an opportunity for teachers and students no matter where in the state they live to participate in distance learning, a critical need for a rural state such as ours.

We urge policymakers to take a tour to learn more.

John Wentworth

Monson