Ready Rhode Island

Island would pay for itself in less than ten years and would generate benefits of $8 dollars for each dollar
invested. Economist James J. Heckman, as noted earlier, has
estimated that an investment in early childhood education that
produced a 5% increase in male high school graduation rates could
save Rhode Island $6 million annually in costs associated with criminal
justice alone. 37
The cost of this proposal constitutes less than 1% of the Rhode Island’s
current spending on education, and less than half of one percent of
total state spending.
The cost of this proposal
constitutes less than 1% of
Rhode Island’s current
spending on education, and
less than half of one percent
of total state spending.
To offset the costs of the expansion of both full-day kindergarten and universal pre-kindergarten, my
administration:
• Will partner with individual school districts willing to commit existing Federal Title 1 dollars to
these early childhood programs.
• Will aggressively seek federal and private foundation funding for this critical initiative: the
recently proposed Strong Start for America’s Children Act of 2013, for example, would establish
America’s first federal formula for locally provided high-quality, pre-kindergarten.
• Will reduce the number of young people at the Rhode Island Training School and invest in costeffective
alternative treatments like Drug Courts that are proven to reduce crime and save
millions. 38
I am confident from my experience as Mayor of Providence that as Governor, I will be able to identify
the savings and efficiencies necessary to allow us to reallocate existing resources to important
investments like early childhood education. For example-
• The state of Rhode Island spends tens of millions of dollars a year on personnel overtime costs, a
large portion of which occurs at state hospitals and prisons. 39 As Mayor, I know that overtime
costs can be a penny wise and a pound foolish. My administration will reduce overtime costs
through smarter, more streamlined staffing strategies at state institutions.
• My administration will competitively bid contracts for vehicle fleet maintenance, an overdue
reform that has the potential to save Rhode Island millions of dollars.
37 “Invest in Early Childhood Development ” Heckman The Heckman Equation
38 Drug Courts: Saving Money, Cutting Crime, Serving Veterans” National Association of Drug Court Professionals
39 “Social programs, overtime pushing R.I. beyond its budget,” Providence Journal, November, 2013.
Page 7 of 8
Paid for and Authorized by Friends of Angel Taveras| Ava Vanech, Treasurer
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