Publication: Long-term Outcomes of Early Childhood Programs

• Behrman, Richard E.

This issue of the journal focuses on the potential of early
childhood programs to improve the development and life
outcomes of children. This topic was chosen because some
policymakers continue to manifest uncertainty about the
long-term impact of preschool programs and because
contemplated changes in funding for such programs offer the
opportunity to reconfigure support for children and families
in a manner that may allow increased coherence of the
currently disparate array of service programs needed by
low-income families.

The evidence developed over the past three decades from
research, demonstrations, program evaluations, and
practical experience in the United States and in other
countries strongly supports several general conclusions:

1. Early childhood programs such as Head Start and
preschool improve children's cognitive performance and
success in school, increasing the likelihood that they will
later be productive citizens, as measured by higher earnings
and a lower incidence of criminal activity. These programs
are particularly cost-effective investments in the lives of
young children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

2. Positive results depend on the quality of the programs
provided, especially if the programs are to undo the
damaging effects of poverty on children and their families.
Program quality is both expensive and essential.

3. Public funding is crucial to assure that poor children
have access to these programs which can put them on a path
toward success. Although the benefits of early childhood
programs accrue primarily to low-income children, these
children are less likely than children from middle- and
upper-income families to attend such programs because of
the costs.

The articles presented here summarize knowledge and
experience in selected areas that we believe are relevant
to improving public policies in the United States that have
an impact on the long-term outcomes of early childhood
programs. We hope the information and analyses these
articles contain will further understanding of the
important issues and thus contribute to reasonable changes
in policies which will benefit children.