The Value of High Quality Preschool Investments as Economic Tools

This working paper is among a series of papers funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts through its "Advancing Quality Pre-K for All" initiative. The paper finds that early childhood education appears to offer great potential returns and low risks, and should be included by state and local leaders as a component of their economic development policy toolkit. The paper encourages local development policy-makers to view early education as a development tool and appreciate its lasting benefits.