If Gov. Ted Strickland gets his way, and the Early Learning Initiative (ELI) program is eliminated, more than 400 children and families in Stark County will be affected. The children affected are at risk, since they come from low-income families. Children who participate in the program receive a quality preschool education that prepares them for kindergarten and future school success.

Many studies have proved that every dollar invested in early-childhood education saves the taxpayer several dollars in the future.

If these at-risk children are not in a quality early-childhood setting, they may repeat a grade later in school or fall behind and not be able to catch up. Both of these scenarios will cost the taxpayer more money.

Investing in early-childhood education has proved to be a sound investment. I am outraged to think that this quality program will be eliminated from the state budget.

Without the ELI program, the child- care centers that currently participate in the program will no longer be able to provide the quality education these at-risk children deserve. Why should balancing the budget fall on the backs of our youngest citizens?
Christy Johnson
Canton

Editor's note: The writer is ELI coordinator at the YWCA in Canton.

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