The Economic Promise of Investing in High-Quality Preschool

This study, sponsored by a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts, finds that American children, the United States' economy and our society can greatly benefit from improved and expanded early childhood education programs. Preschool programs prepare students for early educational success, but investing in high-quality early education also has long-lasting effects, improving students' outcomes well into their adolescent and adult years. Economically, the long-term impacts of preschool programs translate into significant public and private benefits, with returns far exceeding the costs.;Generating the expected returns requires investments in high-quality programs employing well-trained teachers that help children develop their academic, social, emotional, and physical skills.