When it comes to building thriving communities, education is a cornerstone. And when it comes to education, the earlier a child can start learning in a school-like setting, the more successful they will be, research shows. Early childhood education helps the economy by generating jobs and economic activity, as well as savings from reduced public expenditures later in a child’s life. It helps parents by allowing them the freedom to work or go back to school to build the skills necessary to advance their careers. And children benefit from quality early childhood education immediately, making them more likely to be prepared for Kindergarten, as well as into adulthood, when they are more likely to graduate from high school, have better health, be less likely to commit crimes, and more likely to have higher wages. At the Dayton Independent School District in Northern Kentucky, it’s key to helping their community.