Reading Research Monday: The Positive Effects of Preschool

This recent Planet Money story on NPR instantly caught my attention:  Why Preschool Can Save the World. The episode discusses “decades-long studies that found preschool made a huge difference in the lives of poor children. And [they speak with] a Nobel prize-winning economist who says that spending public money on preschool produces a huge return on investment.”

It is fascinating to look at the results of the studies published in this area.  It is also important to note that there are multiple studies that have the same or similar findings, showing that the main study discussed in the above podcast isn’t a fluke.  Through research (resources listed below) preschool has repeatedly been shown to have a positive effect in many aspects of students’ lives who are considered “at-risk” or who are economically disadvantaged.

For example, high-quality preschools have been shown to positively effect students in the following ways:

1. Higher test scores from ages 7-14
2. Higher grade point averages
3. More likely to graduate from high school
4. More likely to be on grade level at age 14
5. More likely to have an IQ of 90+ at age 5
6. Less misconduct at ages 15 and 19
7. Lower incidence of fighting and violent behavior
8. Lower incidence of property damage
9. Fewer police contacts
10. Less likely to get arrested 5+ times by age 40
11. Less likely to be on public assistance
12. More likely to earn $20k+ at 40
13. More likely to own a home
14. More likely to own a car
15. More likely to have a savings account

The effects of high quality education can be truly amazing!

Here are just a few more studies/resources on the topic:

• Preschool Education and Its Lasting Effects: Research and Policy Implications
• Journal Issue: Long-Term Outcomes Of Early Childhood Programs
• Early education and children’s outcomes: How long do the impacts last?
• Early Childhood Research Quarterly
• Changed Lives: The Effects of the Perry Preschool Program on Youths through Age 19
• The High/Scope Perry Preschool Project