Law Enforcement Leaders Say Quality Early Learning Programs Reduce Violent Crime, Save Millions in Special Education Costs

Media Advisory for Tuesday, September 7

CONCORD, Calif., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Concord Police Chief and Contra Costa County Sheriff-elect David Livingston and Pleasant Hill Police Chief Pete Dunbar will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 7, to release a new report showing that investing more in voluntary high-quality preschool programs reduces crime over the long run and saves millions of dollars in the short term. The report will document that investments in preschool programs can reduce the need for special education placements and other K-12 education expenses when preschool children advance to later grades.

Chief Livingston and Chief Dunbar will call on the state's Congressional delegation, including Rep. George Miller, to press for a shift from a K-through-12 education model to a preschool-through-12 approach, as Congress considers reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, called the No Child Left Behind Act in its last renewal. Citing the many benefits of preschool programs, the local law enforcement leaders will express support for federal incentives to states to increase access to high-quality preschool as part of the new federal legislation.

VISUAL: Local police chiefs release research report and tour preschool classroom, read to students.

WHO: Chief David Livingston, Concord Police Department

Chief Pete Dunbar, Pleasant Hill Police Department
Assemblymember Tom Torlakson, California Assembly District 11

Barrie Becker, State Director, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California

WHAT: News Conference and Report Release

WHERE: Cambridge Child Development Center, 1146 Lacey Lane, Concord, CA 94520

WHEN: Tuesday September 7, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

SOURCE Fight Crime: Invest in Kids