Governor Commends Territory's Business Leaders on Pledge to Make Good on Investment in Early Education Initiatives for V.I. Children and Families, New Social/Economic Compact Announced

Local Efforts Already Underway Highlight Substantial Return on Investment to Community

With the wrap-up of the Virgin Islands Business Leaders Summits on Early Childhood Investment this week, Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. was pleased at the unity of purpose expressed by the Territory’s business leaders to invest in early education initiatives to improve the Territory's early childhood welfare programs, adding to the efforts already underway for Virgin Islands children and families. With approximately 150 childcare centers in the Territory, and 49 Head Start classrooms, improving and expanding the child welfare system has been a continual focus of the de Jongh/Francis Administration.

Throughout the conference held earlier this week, speakers from the public, private, and non-profit sectors presented information about the links between the welfare of young children and the health of the private sector, explaining these deep linkages as being vital areas for investment and focus. Conference presenters pointed to overwhelming evidence that clearly delineates the critical importance of funding childhood education initiatives in a broad-based, community-wide approach, enabling a substantial return on investment, benefitting the greater community. Business leaders resoundingly agreed with the prevailing research, favoring the return on investment concept as an important policy shaper and motivator.

“These summits have brought about significant new dialogue and interest in the area of private sector support of early education initiatives. The key investments of the public sector in our schools are already underway, and the partnership with businesses throughout the Territory solidifies an important social and economic compact that looks at the long term return on investment for the greater community. Our efforts continue to focus on the holistic care of all children in the Virgin Islands, with a tremendous focus on creating foundations of success and achievement for each child in his or her own unique way.”

The Governor continued, “We are aware of the challenges before us and are taking the necessary steps to create the networks of support so vital to a child’s empowerment and happiness. This bodes well for the community and levels the playing field for so many children and families Territory-wide. I am proud of the implications of this new compact with the business community towards creating additional opportunities for children and families Territory-wide.” 

In referencing the various programs of the Administration to address children’s unique needs, the Governor also noted, “We are targeting preschool and early childhood programs as integral components of each child’s schooling process. If we begin to capture our youth in these early learning programs, starting from birth, and we make the investments, we can hold to the goal of making sure that every family in the Virgin Islands has the opportunity to send their child to preschool and secure a better Virgin Islands future for us all.”

Recalling the high cost to house inmates in comparison to being able to allocate those monies for children’s educational development, the Governor also noted, “It costs the Government $45,000 per year to incarcerate someone at the Bureau of Corrections. If we re-shift these dollars to early education programs and capture these individuals before they enter a life of crime and delinquency, we can continue to make advances in building our workforce and assisting individuals and families with leading more fulfilling and rewarding lives,” Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. said. 

With American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grants, the Virgin Islands Government has begun to subsidize early education and care in the Territory. Initiatives such as the Leadership in Action program (LAP), an effort of the Children and Families Council, recently issued new rules and regulations for early education best practices, and a new quality rating system has been implemented by the Early Childhood Advisory Committee (ECAC), also an effort of the Council, to assist parents in identifying the quality of the childcare center they are choosing. The Government seeks to work with each childcare center in the Territory to help each facility achieve the highest rating possible in order to maximize the quality learning experience for all Virgin Islands children. 

In addition, ARRA monies have also made possible expanded subsidies for an additional 117 children, enabling additional childcare services to working parents who can’t afford these critical programs. Some ARRA dollars have also been set aside for Head Start initiatives to provide staff trainings, with the goal of increasing the quality of education and care for the Territory’s youngest children. These initiatives point to the top priority of the De Jongh/Francis Administration in providing real change and progress for Virgin Islands children and families as part of an overall focus on economic empowerment for all residents of the Territory. 

During the conference, Rob Grunewald of the Central Reserve Bank in Minneapolis recapped four independent studies that prove the positive financial return stemming from investing in early childhood education programs. Noted benefits include an increase in high school graduation rates, lower special education costs, lower juvenile and adult crime costs, and lower prison costs. For that reason, the Federal Reserve Bank, acting in its role to promote the U.S. Economy, chose to send representatives across the country to support educational initiatives.

One study referenced by Grunewald, the High Scope Perry Preschool Survey, monitored children for over 40 years, concluding that for every dollar of investment in early childhood initiatives, the public reaped $16 dollars in return, a 1:16 ratio.

“That kind of demonstrable economic benefit cannot be ignored,” Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. stated. “We see that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and when presented with this information, the leaders of the Virgin Islands business community were motivated to act. I commend their commitment to children and families.” 

Presenters at the summits explained the link between quality education and a healthy business community as a matter of connecting the dots. Early childhood experiences prepare children to learn before they begin their schooling. Those children are more likely to read at grade level by third grade, and children who read at grade level are more likely to graduate from high school. The logic continues that high school graduates are then more likely to go on to higher education, enter the job market and expand personal opportunities for success and self-fulfillment.

The summits were developed with the recognition that government cannot accomplish a comprehensive early childhood agenda alone. For that reason, the Virgin Islands and many U.S. states have embarked on creative partnerships with the business community to invest in early childhood care and education in order to ensure a strong economy years down the road.

The Virgin Islands summits were sponsored through a partnership of the Children and Families Council, the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, the Economic Development Authority, the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce, the St. Thomas/St. John Chamber of Commerce and the Pew Charitable Trusts. 

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