Faculty Advisor
Heather Hanna
Faculty Advisor Email
heather.hanna@ssrc.msstate.edu
Abstract
Early childhood education (ECE) programs, which include publicly sponsored pre-kindergarten, Head Start, and private child care centers, are vital to child development, family stability, and economic success. Benefits of early childhood education (ECE) include better lifetime wages, higher tax revenues, and less dependence on public assistance programs. Research has repeatedly shown that ECE offers a substantial return on investment (ROI). Federal funding for early childhood education is still scarce despite current data. This review of the literature looks at the long-term social, economic, and employment effects of ECE investments in the US, emphasizing how they can boost economic growth, increase labor participation, and lower inequality. A cost-effective way to enhance future generations' family financial security and societal well-being is to increase access to universal, high-quality early childhood education programs.
Rights
None.
Recommended Citation
Moore, R'riuna; Poole, Callie; and Hanna, Heather L.
(2025)
"Literature Review: Investing in Early Childhood Education Pays Dividends,"
Endeavors: Mississippi State Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 1:
Iss.
1, Article 10.
Available at:
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/endeavors/vol1/iss1/10
