Early Childhood Education's Economic Benefits

Here is a summary of an excellent report published by the Committee for Economic Development (CED).

Job creation and economic development have become a centerpiece of state and local policy. Each year, billions of state and local tax dollars are committed to local development projects in the U.S., often in the form of providing inducements to high-profile companies, subsidizing entertainment infrastructure (such as arenas or stadiums), or creating “cluster” developments.

Though these investments are increasingly common, their returns are risky, if at all positive, and their benefits are frequently aimed at a small segment of the local population. Early childhood education, in contrast, appears to offer greater potential returns and substantially less risk, and should be included by state and local leaders as a component of their economic development policy toolkit. CED encourage local development policy-makers to view early education as a development tool and appreciate its lasting benefits. It is time that early education is implemented with the same energy, urgency, and funding that is currently being applied to other, less-promising, development projects.

Download the report here.