“No other social program for children and youth has been shown to have that level of return on investment,” he said.
Among the study results:
• 80 percent of the preschool group finished high school, versus 75 percent of the others;
• Nearly 15 percent of the preschool group attended a four-year college, versus 11 percent of the others;
• 28 percent of the preschool group had skilled jobs requiring post-high school training, versus 21 percent of the others;
• Average annual adult income for the preschool group was about $11,600, versus $10,800 for the others. The low average incomes include zero earnings for those in prison and close to that for adults who were still in college or studying elsewhere.
• 14 percent of the preschool group had abused drugs in adulthood, versus 19 percent of the others;
• 48 percent of the preschool group had been arrested in adulthood and 15 percent had been incarcerated, versus 54 percent of the others arrested and 21 percent incarcerated.
The results are based on public records, administrative data, and interviews with study participants.
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