Early Childhood Education to Promote Health Equity: A Community Guide Economic Review

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Public Health Manag Pract
• Personal Author:
  Ramon, Ismaila ; Chattopadhyay, Sajal K. ; Barnett, W. Steven ; Hahn, Robert A.
• Description:
  Context:
  
  A previous Community Guide systematic review found that early childhood education (ECE) programs improve educational, social, and health-related outcomes and advance health equity because many are designed to increase enrollment for high-risk students. This follow-up economic review examines how the economic benefits of center-based ECE programs compare with their costs.
  
  Evidence Acquisition:
  
  Kay and Pennucci from the Washington Institute for Public Policy, whose meta-analysis formed the basis of the Community Guide effectiveness review, conducted a benefit–cost analysis of ECE programs for low-income children in Washington State. We performed an electronic database search using both effectiveness and economic key words to identify additional cost-benefit studies published through May 2015. Kay and Pennucci also provided us with national-level benefit-cost estimates for state and district and federal Head Start programs.
  
  Evidence Synthesis:
  
  The median benefit-to-cost ratio from 11 estimates of earnings gains, the major benefit driver for three types of ECE programs (i.e., state and district, federal Head Start, and model programs), was 3.39:1 (interquartile interval [IQI]: 2.48 to 4.39). The overall median benefit-to-cost ratio from seven estimates of total benefits, based on additional components besides earnings gains, was 4.19:1 (IQI: 2.62 to 8.60) indicating that for every dollar invested in the program, there was a return of $4.19 in total benefits.
  
  Conclusions:
  
  ECE programs promote both equity and economic efficiency. Evidence indicates there is positive social return on investment in ECE irrespective of the type of ECE program.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Article Cost-benefit Analysis Curriculum Early Childhood Education Economics Education Efficiency Health Equity Humans Return On Investment School Teachers Washington

  More +
• Source:
  J Public Health Manag Pract. 24(1):e8-e15.
• Pubmed ID:
  28257407
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC6172656
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
• Volume:
  24
• Issue:
  1
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:317b7d36b82360bdc2a74344ac04545d004906420bf0ee6434737bc1748f9292
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/59595/cdc_59595_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 331.95 KB ]