Across the state of Maine, students have gone back to school. Our hope for their success in school and life goes with them; however, many of them won't make it through high school, creating problems for themselves, their families and often for law enforcement. The cold hard truth is that high school dropouts are more likely to turn to crime.
A recent report released by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids shows that high school dropouts are three-and-a-half times more likely than high school graduates to be arrested, and more than eight times more likely to be incarcerated. Nationwide, 68 percent of state prison inmates have not received a high school diploma.
The dropout crisis threatens the safety of all Mainers. Statewide, about two out of every 10 high school students fail to graduate from high school on time. While staying in school even one year longer reduces the likelihood that a youngster will turn to crime, graduating from high school has a truly dramatic impact. History has shown that as graduation rates go up, violent crimes decrease. A study by two prominent economists found a 10 percentage point increase in graduation rates would reduce murder and assault rates by about 20 percent, preventing more than 20 murders and over 900 aggravated assaults in Maine every five years.
High-quality early education is the most widely adopted and effective school reform proven to increase graduation rates. Law enforcement leaders support early education because research shows that it prevents crime. A long-term study of the Perry preschool in Michigan showed that by age 27, at-risk three- and four-year-olds left out of the program were five times more likely to be chronic law-breakers than similar children who attended the program. Children left out of another high-quality program in Chicago were 70 percent more likely to have been arrested for a violent crime by age 18 compared to those who participated.
As it stands, many children eligible for these quality programs are not enrolled. Currently in Maine, 83 percent of three-year-olds and 59 percent of four-year-olds are not enrolled in state pre-kindergarten programs, Head Start or early childhood special education programs.
In addition to the public safety threat, high dropout rates affect the strength of our economy. Lacking basic education and professional skills, dropouts earn less, pay fewer taxes and are more likely to turn to crime instead of gainful employment. Reducing the number dropouts will not only save lives, it will also save money. If Maine could raise male graduation rates by 10 percent, the state would save approximately $29 million every year, including almost $6 million in reduced crime costs alone.
To further explore how prevention investments at the state and federal levels can help York County children succeed in life and save tax dollars, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Maine and the United Way of York County is hosting the York County Community Conversation on Early Childhood Care on Oct. 14. I am pleased to be one of the speakers at this community conversation, and will be joined by Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe, York County Sheriff Maurice Ouellette, Barbara Wentworth of the United Way of York County, Maine Department of Education Early Childhood Consultant Janine Blatt, Child Care Services of York County Executive Director Bill Hager, and Beth Johnson, directory of Community Programs at Goodall Hospital and a member of the Alliance for Healthy Families.
Thanks to the generous support of the Sam L. Cohen Foundation, this community conversation is open to the public and invited guests include York County legislators and legislative candidates; community, business and education leaders; service providers, childcare experts and parents. The York County Community Conversation on Early Childhood Care and Education will be held Oct. 14 from 8 a.m. to noon at Village by the Sea, 1372 Post Road in Wells.
Maine needs to make greater investments in early education so we can prevent crime and violence before it happens - and save taxpayer dollars. We are hoping that the Oct. 14 community conversation will help us charter a stronger path for children's successes.
