Must-Read: Robert Lynch and Kavya Vaghul: Benefits and Costs of Investing in Early Childhood Education

Must-Read: Robert Lynch and Kavya Vaghul: Benefits and Costs of Investing in Early Childhood Education: “A case for public investment in either a targeted or a universal prekindergarten program…

…can be made with the best policy depending in part on whether a higher value is placed on the ratio of benefits to costs (which are higher for a targeted program) or the total net benefits (which are higher for a universal program)…. If public funds are limited, a targeted program may be more attractive…. If a larger priority is placed on narrowing the achievement gap between children from low-income and upper-income families than on promoting economic growth, then the targeted program may be more effective…. A universal prekindergarten program… is likely to generate greater future economic growth…. In addition, children who are not eligible for a targeted program can benefit from high-quality pre-K, and targeted programs frequently fail to reach many of the children they are designed to serve…