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from high school, complete college, stay at a good job, buy a home and raise a healthy family.

Children without these opportunities however are more likely to require expensive remedial education programs, drop out of school, rely on social services and have less productive futures. This results in an increased burden on all West Virginia taxpayers and continues to strain the resources of our small state.

An early learning investment has been documented to save $7 for every $1 that society spends. Yet, less than a third of West Virginia's children benefit from early care and education. And, for the children who do attend these programs, a quality environment is not guaranteed.

More and more, teachers are reporting children entering kindergarten not ready for school. Many cannot yet speak in complete sentences, hold a crayon or understand how to interact with their peers. This slows down the educational process for all children in a

classroom and presents these children with learning challenges that are likely to follow them throughout elementary and secondary school.

The research is backed up time and time again—study after study proves that quality early childhood environments are indeed the key to foture success. Yet, the potential to change the course of West Virginia through a quality early care and education system remains largely untapped. The early care and education system in our state continues to lack the respect and resources of more traditional educational programs in the public schools.

An investment in early childhood as part of the solution to West Virginia's economic problems cannot happen without better public support of the issues. While increasing public understanding is a critical step in gaining that support, an awareness campaign must motivate action, as well as inform..