Early childhood education is one of the most cost-effective and potent economic development tools available

The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute has released a report with the title



You can find the executive summary by clicking ABSTRACT  or click the graphic above to go to the full report

The following is an excerpt directly from that executive summary:

Early childhood education is one of the most cost-effective and potent economic development tools available. Investment in young children supports economic development by boosting the long-run productivity of the labor force and reducing public costs. In the cold calculus of economic analysis, repeated studies have not only confirmed the long-term value of early childhood education, but its economic payback has been estimated as high as $16 for every $1. Early childhood education programs can provide high rates of return when:

• They are of proven high quality. 
• They reach children in greatest need, such as children in poverty. 
• They reach children well before they start kindergarten.