States would reap significant financial benefits in as little as six years by spending more on high-quality preschool programs, suggests a study by Robert G. Lynch, an economist at the Washington-based Economic Policy Institute.
The study provides state-by-state data on the economic, public safety, and budgetary gains governments would realize from establishing either a universal preschool program for 3- and 4-year-olds, or a targeted program for disadvantaged children. His analysis is based on data from the Chicago Child-Parent Center program, which provides comprehensive early-childhood education and family-support services to children from low-income families.
An executive summary of Enriching Children, Enriching the Nation is available from the Economic Policy Institute.
