title: Age 26 cost-benefit analysis of the child-parent center early education program.
abstract: Using data collected up to age 26 in the Chicago Longitudinal Study, this cost-benefit analysis of the Child-Parent Centers (CPC) is the first for a sustained publicly funded early intervention. The program provides services for low-income families beginning at age 3 in 20 school sites. Kindergarten and school-age services are provided up to age 9 (third grade). Findings from a complete cohort of over 1,400 program and comparison group participants indicated that the CPCs had economic benefits in 2007 dollars that exceeded costs. The preschool program provided a total return to society of $10.83 per dollar invested (18% annual return). The primary sources of benefits were increased earnings and tax revenues and averted criminal justice system costs. The school-age program had a societal return of $3.97 per dollar invested (10% annual return). The extended intervention program (4-6 years) had a societal return of $8.24 (18% annual return). Estimates were robust across a wide range of analyses including Monte Carlo simulations. Males, 1-year preschool participants, and children from higher risk families derived greater benefits. Findings provide strong evidence that sustained programs can contribute to well-being for individuals and society.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. ajr@umn.edu
authors.forename: Arthur J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Judy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Temple
authors.forename: Barry A B
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Suh-Ruu
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Dylan L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002641:Chicago; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000191:economics; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000191:economics; D003415:Crime / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational / Q000191:economics*; D004493:Education / Q000191:economics*; D004519:Education, Special / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011203:Poverty / Q000191:economics*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012073:Remedial Teaching / Q000191:economics; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical; D055815:Young Adult