Early education investments generate $2 to $17 in returns for every dollar invested, with greater returns as children are followed further in life¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · review r1 · q2
Currency · newest study 2020 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Economists have shown benefits of early education investments generating $2 to $17 for every dollar invested, with greater returns evident as children are followed further in life. → The Federal Role in Advancing Education Equity and Excellence 2020

Evidence¶

The Federal Role in Advancing Education Equity and Excellence 2020¶

The Federal Role in Advancing Education Equity and Excellence. (2020). Learning Policy Institute. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED610926

q2 · i? · review · r1

The brief reports this economic return range alongside a review of current research demonstrating the benefits of high-quality pre-k programs, and notes child care reaches only 15% of eligible children from low-income families.

"Economists have also shown the benefits of early education investments, which generate $2 to $17 for every dollar invested, with greater returns evident as children are followed further in life."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Cost analyses find community schools return $3 to $15 for every dollar spent — related
• Cost-benefit research suggests returns of up to $15 in social value and economic benefits per dollar spent on school-based wraparound services — related
• Washington, DC's PEF sustained a positive social return on investment of 21 percent in FY 2024, similar to 23 percent in FY 2023 — related
• Kindergarten math growth from fall to spring is greater in High PreK4 investment states than in Growing or Low states — related
• Education interventions across early childhood, secondary, higher education, integration, and comprehensive programs generate net taxpayer benefits of approximately $2 to over $10 per dollar invested. — a broader claim this one bears on
• Program costs rose under the PEF's facility payment model, but the size and economic value of benefits also increased — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• A benefit-cost analysis of DC's Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund finds the initiative to address educator pay gaps has economic value — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• The PEF's total FY 2024 economic value of benefits was $93 million, up from $67 million in FY 2023, with benefits to families the largest share — a narrower finding that bears on this claim