Why Small Steps?

The High/Scope Perry Preschool Study Through Age 40

Three important, long-term studies have shown the significant benefit of a high-quality preschool program for economically at risk children.  This page summarizes the findings of the High/Scope Perry Preschool Study which has tracked preschoolers through age 40.  In addition to this study, two other major studies showing the benefit of high-quality preschool are the Chicago Child-Parent Center Program and The Carolina Abecedarian Project.  An exceptional recent book on early childhood programs is Effective Early Childhood Programs: Turning Knowledge into Action by Susan H. Landry.

The High/Scope Perry Preschool Study Summarized

From 1962 through 1967, researchers in Ypsilanti, Michigan began studying 123 low-income African-American children who were assessed to be at high risk of school failure.  Fifty-eight of the students were assigned to a group that received a high-quality preschool program at ages 3 and 4 and sixty-five were assigned to a group that received no preschool program.  The most recent of eight studies detailing the findings of the program effects was published this fall, and it updated the results of the study group through age forty.  The findings are dramatic.

Study Findings

• More of the preschool group were employed at age 40 (76% vs. 62%).
• The preschool group had significantly higher median annual earnings at age 40 ($20,800 vs. $15,300).
• The preschool group had higher rates of homeownership.  (37% vs. 28% at age 40 and 27% vs. 5% at age 27).
• The preschool group had higher rates of automobile ownership at age 40 (82% vs. 60%).
• The preschool group had higher rates of ownership of a savings account at age 40 (76% vs. 50%).
• More preschool group males raised their own children (57% vs. 30%).
• More of the preschool group, at age 40, said that they were getting along very well with their families (75% vs. 64%).
• The preschool group had significantly fewer lifetime arrests (36% vs. 55% arrested 5 or more times.)
• The preschool group had significantly fewer arrests for violent crimes (32% vs. 48%), property crimes (36% vs. 58%), and drug crimes (14% vs. 34%).
• In constant dollars discounted at 3% per year, the economic return to society to date has been $17.07 per dollar invested.  Of that, $12.90 went to society, and $4.17 went to each participant.
• Of the public sector benefit, 88% came from crime savings, 4% came from education savings, 1% came from welfare savings, and 7% came from increased taxes due to higher earnings.
• The cost-benefit analysis ignores the hard to monetize areas such as family, health and wealth benefits.  The total value probably exceeds the $17 to $1 payoff.

Generalizing Effects for Small Steps

The study states that “The external … generalizability of the study findings extends to those programs that are reasonably similar,” with reasonably similar defined as including:

• A preschool education program.
• Run by teachers with bachelor’s degrees and certifications in education.
• Each serving up to 8 children.
• Children living in low-income families.
• Offering 2 school years at 3 and 4 years of age.
• With daily classes of 2 ½ hours or more.
• Using the High/Scope educational model or a similar participatory education approach.
• With teachers visiting families at least every 2 weeks.

Small Steps Nurturing Center meets each of these criteria!