Investing in pre-school cost-effective
In mid-November 2004, researchers unveiled dramatic findings on the benefits of quality preschool to children, the economy and society.
After closely following the progress of 150 Michigan children from their preschool years through age 40, the Perry Preschool study found that the public reaped a return of $17 for every tax dollar invested in quality preschool.
The High/Scope Perry Preschool study followed two groups of children over a period of 40 years. As 3-year-olds in 1962, the children were either placed in a high-quality preschool program (participants) or received no preschool education prior to kindergarten (non-participants).
Researchers found that participants in the program were significantly more likely to have graduated from high school (65 percent for participants versus 45 percent for non-participants); less likely to have been arrested for drug crimes (14 percent versus 34 percent), property crimes (36 percent versus 58 percent) or violent crimes (32 percent versus 48 percent); and more likely to be employed at age 40 (76 percent versus 62 percent).
Because of the study's random assignment strategy, children's preschool experience remains the best explanation for subsequent group differences in their school and life experiences over the years.
At age 40, the preschool participants' median annual income was more than $5,000 higher than non-participants ($20,800 versus $15,300).
With returns to the public of a quarter million dollars per child for $15,000 up-front investment, they have shown preschool to be one of the smartest investments we could make in the future.
Researchers attributed the success of the Perry program to its quality standards, which included small class sizes and teachers with bachelor's degrees who had training in early childhood development. Perry teachers were paid salaries similar to teachers in the K-12 system. By contrast, California does not require teachers in its State Preschool Program to have bachelor's degrees; nor does the federal Head Start program.
Less than half of preschool-age children in California are enrolled in a preschool program. In Kern County, only 37 percent of children are in a preschool program. Despite the low percentage of California children who are currently exposed to quality preschool, there is a renewed interest in the state in expanding preschool opportunities. The challenge we face in doing this is how to deliver quality preschool in a cost-effective manner.
The good news is that there are innovative approaches being piloted in the California, including some right here in Kern County.
There is so much we can learn from the Perry Preschool study. If we invest in children at a time when their brains are developing so rapidly, we can greatly increase the chances they will succeed in school and in life.
California lags behind the nation in providing preschool opportunities to children, and that means we're missing out on the tremendous benefits both to children and the economy that we could reap with a strategic investment in preschool for all.
Wendy Wayne of Bakersfield is a child care consultant.
