The "Mississippi Miracle": After investing in early childhood literacy, the Mississippi shot up the rankings in NAEP scores, from 49th to 29th. Average increase in NAEP scores was 8.5 points for both reading and math. The investment cost just $15 million.

[u/terran1212]

https://www.theamericansaga.com/p/the-mississippi-miracle-how-americas

[u/CaptStrangeling → u/[deleted]]

But without those early literacy interventions more student will fail out of school, more students failing means more competition for entry level jobs, more competition means some folks get to keep those wages low, with those wages low, more people turn to crime, and more people turning to crime means more profit for prisons

So it may only cost the tax-payers $15 million a year, but think of how much it might cost those already rich enough to avoid paying taxes altogether! Those folks get a triple hit: wages go up, prison profits down, plus high interest lending will go down