Quality, persistence, and the right measurements are essential to actualizing the promise of quality early childhood education to elevate the lives of disadvantaged children and families.
The Abecedarian preschool program in North Carolina started at birth and provided parental education, early health, nutrition, and early learning up to age 5. After more than 35 years of follow-up study on the treatment and control groups it is the only early childhood program that permanently raised IQ and instilled greater character skills which, in combination, delivered greater returns in educational achievement, employment and, most importantly, health.
At age 35, treated males had zero incidence of metabolic syndrome–a precursor to chronic disease–in stark contrast to 25% of males who didn’t participate in the program. A 25% reduction in chronic disease is life saving and cost saving. Research clearly shows that we must invest dollars, not dimes; implement high quality programs, develop the whole child, and nurture the initial investment in early learning with more K-12 education that develops cognition and character.
When we do, we get significant returns in better education, health, social, and economic productivity that more than pay for the cost of quality early childhood programs.
Yes, quality early childhood education is expensive, but we pay a far higher cost in ignoring its value or betting on the cheap.Â
Nobel laureate James Heckman is the Henry Schultz Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago and an expert in the economics of human development.