As positive as these educational and social outcomes are, it is the cost information that has proven to be most persuasive to policy makers. The costs to taxpayers of NOT operating a 1-year early education program of high quality for disadvantaged children are 6 times that of providing the service. The earlier the children were enrolled, the more enduring the gain. This study represents one of the broadest and most long lasting benefits reported to date for an early childhood program. Although a few states have begun to examine the impact of child care subsidies on parents, children, employers, and communities, existing research has only tapped the surface.
More research is needed to understand the relationship between child care and economic development.
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