New Studies Bolster Legal Claim for Preschool Education

Two new studies reinforce earlier findings that high quality preschool programs provide significant individual and societal benefits both in the long and short-term. A recent study of the Oklahoma universal prekindergarten program found significant gains in key school readiness skills for children who had gone through the program. The latest findings of the High/Scope Perry Preschool study show that the benefits of high quality preschool continue well into adulthood, resulting in impressive differences in socioeconomic achievement between participants and a control group. Advocates and attorneys can cite these two studies to support efforts to establish a legal right to preschool education.

The Oklahoma program is considered a model because it enrolls the highest percentage of four-year-olds of any program in the country. Moreover, it imposes high quality standards including low child/staff ratios and stringent teacher credentials. All lead teachers must have a college degree and certification in early childhood. In order to recruit high quality teachers, preschool teachers are paid at public school teacher rates. The recent study compared participants in the program to a comparable control group who had not yet entered the program. Significant differences in key school readiness skills were found. For instance, the scores of prekindergarten participants on letter-word identification tests were 52% higher than the control group, controlling for age differences. Gains were most significant for Hispanic students who showed improvement of 79% on letter-word identification.

The Perry Preschool study measures the long-term benefits of high quality preschool education. It has followed program participants and a control group throughout their education and now to age 40. Educational differences were noted throughout their schooling with graduation rates being significantly higher for program participants (65% vs. 45%). This difference is particularly marked in females with a graduation rate of 84% for participants compared to 32% for non-participants. The latest findings from this study show that at age 40, the benefits continue with significantly higher rates of employment, median annual earnings approximately $5,000 higher, more home ownership, and lower incarceration rates. Differences were even seen in drug use and family structure, with male program participants being more likely to raise their own children (57% vs. 30%) and less likely to use drugs. A cost-benefit analysis of the Perry program was conducted to determine the economic return to society of the program. It was determined that there was an average return of $17.07 for every dollar spent on the program. This savings is based on reduction in crime, welfare, and remedial education, as well as an increase in the tax base due to higher earnings.