Debate in Harrisburg will soon begin in earnest to adopt a state budget for fiscal year 2015-16, and education funding will be front and center.

Among the proposals being sought by Gov. Tom Wolf is increased funding for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, an initiative that recently attracted outspoken support from some unusual kindergarten bedfellows: The law enforcement community.District Attorneys Risa Ferman, Montgomery County; Seth Williams, Philadelphia; Jack Whelan, Delaware County; and Tom Hogan, Chester County, held a press conference April 29 to introduce a report, "We're the Guys You Pay Later," by the Fight Crime: Invest in Kids coalition. The report makes the case that more is spent on jailing adults than on investing in education for children. That early investment can be shown, the report argues, to change the path for at-risk children from potential criminals to productive members of society.Looking to early education to prevent crime is gaining traction nationwide. According to the report, children who participated in high-quality preschool and parent coaching programs through Chicago's Child-Parent Centers were found to be 20 percent less likely to be arrested or incarcerated for a felony as young adults than those who did not attend.The benefits are evident on families as well as the enrolled children, the report states. The Chicago CPC program cut child abuse and neglect in half for the children served, compared to similar children from families not being helped.In place since 1989, state Pre-K Counts funding has made possible early education slots for 160 children in profit and nonprofit child care centers to ensure quality instruction, qualified teachers and a seamless integration with the district's curriculum.The study emphasizes the importance of getting to children early in life with learning opportunities.Gov. Wolf's proposed budget calls for increasing funding for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts by $100 million, which will nearly double the commonwealth's current annual investment of $97.3 million.Only about one in six of Pennsylvania's 3- and 4-year-olds is enrolled in publicly funded, high-quality pre-k, according to the Pre-K for Pennsylvania coalition. If the governor's proposal is enacted, access would increase to about one in four of the commonwealth's 3- and 4-year-olds.That money, however, will save state taxpayers in the end, the Fight Crime report argues, preventing spending of more than $350 million in prosecution and prison costs for children whose lives are changed by early education. The investment does more than prevent crime, according to the report, it also pumps money into the economy through productive citizens.Some will stick to the argument that it's not up to taxpayers to provide "free baby-sitting" for parents. No one disagrees. The proven results emphasize the importance of investing in quality early educational programs focused on learning from cradle to classroom. Good Pre-K programs are not "baby-sitting," and that's why they require a committed investment.We join with area district attorneys, educators and parents in urging a focused state commitment to funding Pre-K programs. Invest in children now, prevent crime and social problems later.Delaware County Daily Times