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Feature Article
The Economic Value of Early Childhood Education
Many studies have shown that early childhood education provides positive benefits to children, which include increase in early language, literacy and math skills that extend well into midlife. The benefits of early childhood education do not end there; they positively affect society as a whole.
In a Columbia University study, pre-kindergarten programs return almost half of their original cost in later school-related savings. For example, an initial investment in a high-quality program resulted in savings from $2,951 to $9,547 per child within 10 years of entering kindergarten.
The savings resulted from a decrease in the number of children requiring special education and students being held back a grade.
A Chicago Child-Parent Program study further analyzed the cost savings beyond school by including costs, such as crime, welfare and taxes. The study found that high-quality early childhood education programs provided savings of more than $7 for each $1 invested. This translates to a savings of $2.6 billion for those children the program already served.