Excerpts
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Researchers find the earnings gains for admitted families are high and last long after the completion of pre-K. They identify the three key elements of care that unlocked these earnings gains: it was free, offered at times that match typical work days, and was not means tested. In terms of return on public investment, as seen in the figure below, researchers state: “Our main finding is that UPK is one of the most cost-effective active labor market policies ever evaluated in the U.S.”
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The incremental cost increases of work-enabling care offer high return on public investment. The study demonstrates that care policies designed to maximize economic opportunities align with providing high-quality childcare and promoting child welfare. It is the most instructive study to date on what aspects of care most effectively enhance earnings:
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This research provides the most definitive evidence to date on the positive impact of non-means-tested, free, all-day pre-K on family economic outcomes.