This report, titled Economic Value of Opportunity Youth, shows a taxpayer cost of more than $1.56 trillion and a social cost of over $4 trillion for  6.7 million youth who "may have dropped out of high school or college and been unable to find work; may have been involved in the criminal justice system; may have mental or health conditions that have inhibited their activities;
or may have care-giving responsibilities in their families."

Can we make a collective case for investment in K-12 programs that reduce the number of youth who go into this category, while also providing funds to help those who do become "opportunity youth" to become contributing members of society rather than costs?