At its heart, the governor’s proposal for a statewide early childhood education system is about strengthening Hawaii for the future.

Our lawmakers should look beyond short-term econo-mies and focus on the significant and lasting benefits this program can provide. Decades of research show that children who participate in high-quality preschool programs benefit academically, professionally and socially.

For Hawaii, the implementation of an early childhood education program that helps cultivate a thriving workforce would enhance our fiscal health by increasing revenues and reining in future spending obligations.

A 2008 economic analysis conducted by Good Beginnings Alliance calculated a return of $4.20 for every $1 invested in a statewide early learning program. This long-term return on investment has been proven repeatedly in longitudinal studies showing the positive effects of high-quality preschool programs.

On top of the economic benefits, our state stands to gain significantly in social capital. Aside from cognitive skills, participation in early learning programs teaches children valuable skills such as patience, self-discipline and collaboration — skills that help students succeed in school, in college and as professionals. Early education would help ensure Hawaii has a strong workforce that could compete effectively in the global market.

These social and economic benefits only be realized only if Hawaii implements a well-funded, intelligently structured and accountable system driven by excellent teachers, thoughtful curriculum, high program standards and rigorous rating and improvement systems. Skimping now will only diminish our return on investment.

Although Hawaii is one of only a handful of states without a universally accessible preschool system, we can make this work to our advantage. As our system takes shape, we can learn from other states’ successes and pull from proven programs. We don’t have to start from scratch and wait to see what works.

Hawaii already has a thriving preschool industry that provides jobs and generates tax revenues for the state. The governor’s proposal aims to build this infrastructure so we can reach more children. By partnering with a variety of public and private preschools, we can meet the demand for facilities, ensure program accessibility and give Hawaii families more choices.

Preschool tuition in Hawaii averages $750 a month. While studies show that all children stand to benefit from early learning, not all families can afford to send their children to preschool. A statewide system would make early learning more equitable, giving the poorest and most disadvantaged children who face the greatest challenges a chance to learn in a high quality environment.

Since society as a whole stands to benefit from this system, society should share in its costs.

Although a primary aim is to offer the program free of charge to low-income families, Hawaii is not proposing 100 percent public financing for its early learning system. Rather, the state would share the financial responsibility with families and base tuition on a sliding-fee scale.

President Barack Obama has made universal access to preschool a priority for his administration, proposing to offer states federal dollars to help fund their programs. We are fortunate to have a president and a governor whose visions for early education align. The time is now.

Three early learning measures are up for debate in the Legislature. Call on your representatives to make those bills a priority and invest in a statewide program. Hawaii cannot afford to let this opportunity pass.