Using Preschool Research

to Facilitate Change
Charlotte, NC, May 21, 2003
Lawrence J. Schweinhart, Ph.D.
High/Scope Educational Research Foundation
600 N. River St., Ypsilanti, MI 48198-2898
(734) 485-2000, http://www.highscope.org
 Good preschool programs for poor
children have lasting effects and an
excellent return on public investment.

Current Best Evidence

„ High/Scope Perry Preschool Midlife Study
„ Carolina Abecedarian Project Through Age 21

„ Chicago Child Parent-Centers Longitudinal Study

Through Age 20
 Consortium for Longitudinal
Studies (1975-1983)

11 preschool studies brought together to counter

disbelief and misinterpretation.
Program effects did not fade out: The programs
improved grade placement and high school
graduation rate.
Strengths of the High/Scope
Perry Preschool Study

Random assignment of children to program and no-

program groups
Little missing data from ages 3 to 41
Reasonable pattern of findings
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Early Findings

Great improvement in IQ, followed by fadeout

Fewer children placed in special education or
retained in grade (17% vs. 38%)
Consistently better achievement test scores in
elementary school, then much better
achievement test scores at age 14
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Age 27 Findings
Program No Program
100%

80%
80%
71%
60%
59%
54%
40%
35% 36%
29%
20%
13%
7% 7%
0%
ar r ests s er v ices aduates /m o nth n hom e
5+ cial ol gr 000+ Ow
o n s o s cho $2
Ever High
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  5HWXUQRQ3XEOLF
,QYHVWPHQW
P rog ram C ost & B en efits
P er P articip an t Sources
$120,000
-- Crime victims (65%)
$100,000 $105,324
-- Justice system (14%)
$80,000
-- More taxes paid (10%)
$60,000
-- Schooling (7%)
$40,000
-- Welfare (3%)
$20,000
$14,716
$0
C o st B en efits
2001 $ annually discounted at 3%
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Engaging Opinion Leaders

Presentations and publications for national

associations:
„ Federal, state, and local policymakers
„ Educators
„ Business leaders

State conferences in most of the states

Voices for Children campaigns in 4 states
(MI, OH, NC, SC)
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Engaging the Public

Age Year Administration

15 1980 Carter

19 1984 Reagan

27 1993 Clinton

40 2004 Bush II
 Preschool Public Policy
1984 2002

Head $1.0 billion $6.5 billion

Start 442,140 children 912,345 children

State 7 states 42 states & DC

Preschool $0.2 billion $2.7 billion
172,524 children 712,525 children