Societal Impact

Over 40 years of research has demonstrated that quality early childhood programs have substantial and measurable economic benefits for individuals, families, schools and communities:

• Students who participated in quality preschool programs show immediate IQ gains, a positive impact on language skills and behavior, and lower rates of participation in remedial education.

• Adults who received a high-quality preschool education are more likely to graduate from high school, be employed, have higher median annual incomes and own their own homes.

• For every $1 spent on quality early childhood education, between $4 and $17 are saved over time on costs associated with remedial education, health care, welfare and criminal justice.

• In the state of Colorado, subsidized child care enables working poor families to earn $111 million per year.

• The total economic impact of early childhood care and education spending on the Colorado economy exceeds $1 billion annually.