(submitted by Emily Zuccaro)

The Washington Center for Equitable Growth has come out with a report, outlining the benefits from investing in early childhood education. The center claims that by 2050, a universal prekindergarten program would yield $8.90 for every dollar invested, $304.7 billion in benefits.

Explaining that educational attainment and success leads to economic growth, the idea of a voluntary, universal prekindergarten program is said to increase educational achievement and the standard of living across all income levels. Children who attend prekindergarten programs are less likely to need special education services and to repeat a grade. The center claims that these children are also less likely to be victims or neglect, reducing the need for child welfare service; less likely to be engaged in violence or criminal acts; be in better health; and after attending college, obtain jobs that pay them well to pay taxes to the society.

States who pay the full universal prekindergarten costs will see surplus in their budget by the year 2050, except states who do not commit much funding to early childhood programs, like Idaho, South Carolina, and Utah.

The center explains how parents and families also benefit from the services, as their children receive subsidized child care from the early childhood services provided.

See attached link for access to the report.

Sources: http://equitablegrowth.org/report/the-benefits-and-costs-of-investing-in-early-childhood-education/