I will be out of town for a few days at two conferences in Boston. This includes the 2011 National Business Summit on Early Childhood Investment, sponsored by the Partnership for America’s Economic Success, at which I will be speaking on Friday. I may see some of my readers there. In any event, this conference is intended to work with various business leaders from around the country to discuss the business case for early childhood investments. It is hoped that conferences such as this will influence the dialogue around the country, including the dialogue in your local community, around these issues.

Early childhood programs are not just “feel good” programs to help the needy. These programs are also investments that have substantial “spillover” benefits upon all groups in the local community, including local businesses. The more people who embrace that type of thinking, the better.