Starting in 1962, researchers followed low-income 3- and 4-year-olds in Michigan to see the effects of a high quality preschool program.

They studied 58 children who went to preschool and 65 children who did not, checking in with them every year between ages 3 and 11, then again at ages 14, 15, 19, 27 and 40.

The study found the preschoolers were more likely to:

• Graduate from high school (65 percent vs. 45 percent)

• Work (76 percent vs. 62 percent)

• Earn more money (a median of $20,800 vs. $15,300)

• Have a savings account (76 percent vs. 50 percent)

Society saved $17 for every tax dollar invested in the preschool program.

The study found preschoolers were less likely to:

• Repeat a grade (21 percent vs. 41 percent)

• Get arrested for violent crimes (32 percent vs. 48 percent), property crimes (36 percent vs. 58 percent) or drug crimes (14 percent vs. 34 percent).

• Require treatment for a mental problem (8 percent vs. 36 percent)

Carolina Abecedarian Study

Researchers studied more than 100 children who were born between 1972 and 1977 and whose parents were poor and uneducated, putting the children at risk of poor school performance and poor social development.

Researchers followed the children through age 21 and found:

• At ages 8 and 12, they outscored other children on IQ, math and reading tests

• At 15 and 21, their IQ scores fell about even, but their reading and math scores remained higher

• They were more likely to attend a 4-year college (36 percent vs 13 percent)

• They were less likely to repeat a grade (31 percent vs. 55 percent)

• They were less likely to be placed in special education (25 percent vs. 48 percent)

Source: National Institute for Early Education Research

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