Amazing Rate of Return

"Research shows that high-quality early childhood programs lead to income gains of 1/3 to 3.5 percent each year when the children are adults," write Thomas Ehrlich and Ernestine Fu in their April 1, 2015 Forbes Magazine article, "The Sooner the Better: Early Childhood Education, A Key to Life-Long Success."

"That may not seem like much," they continue, "but compounded, the higher earnings account for between $9,000 and over $30,000 when the program costs are subtracted. Viewed nationwide, if all families were able to enroll their children in pre-school programs at the same rate as high-income families do now, the total enrollment nationwide would increase by around 13 percent and would yield a present value of at least $4.8 billion – some estimates approximate this number as high as $16.1 billion – from the lifetime earnings per person after deducting the costs of the program. High-quality early childhood education programs provide long-term benefits that far outweigh the costs."

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.

© 2005 Child Care Information Exchange - All Rights Reserved | Contact Us | Return to Site