Yes to $2 billion for children

Re “A boon for ‘First 5’ efforts,” Jan. 3

Reading about Gov.elect Gavin Newsom’s nearly $2-billion commitment to early childhood education programs was the best way to start 2019. An investment where we know it does the most good — in our youngest children — is simply the best investment we can make for our future.

Children growing up in poverty without access to early childhood education programs start kindergarten at a significant disadvantage and may never catch up to their more affluent peers.

According to Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, more than 1 million new neural connections are formed in a baby’s brain during their first years of life. A child’s brain is 90% developed by age 5.

That’s why starting early is key.

High-quality early childhood education programs work, and they help save taxpayer money in the long run. In fact, Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman shows the annual rate of return on investments can be 13% per child due to improved outcomes in education, health, sociability and economic productivity.

I encourage California’s Legislature to support this element of the state budget proposal. Every child in California deserves the best chance for a bright future. Mark K. Shriver Bethesda, Md. The writer is senior vice president for U.S. programs and advocacy at Save the Children.