Don Owens
Office 202.862.9863
Mobile 202.302.5928
dowens@preknow.org

(Madison, WI) - Pre-K Now today released a first of its kind statewide study for Wisconsin measuring the economic impact to Wisconsin's K-12 system if the state expanded Four-Year-Old Kindergarten (4K) to more children. An Economic Analysis of Investments in Pre-Kindergarten in Wisconsin was prepared by Clive Belfield, Ph.D., of Queens College City, University of New York and Dennis Winters, Ph.D., V.P./Director of Research, NorthStar Economics, Inc. The report provides compelling economic evidence of the cost savings associated with high-quality pre-k.

"High-quality pre-k is an investment that yields high returns for children and society and the results of the Wisconsin study demonstrate these tremendous economic benefits," said Libby Doggett, executive director of Pre-K Now. "Dr. Belfield and Dr. Winter's research proves that pre-k is an important issue for state education and business leaders to be concerned with because it's more than a feel good issue, it's about economic improvement."

According to the economic analysis, for every $1 invested in pre-k, Wisconsin would recoup 68 percent in future savings if the program were expanded to all families who are willing to take advantage of it. In Milwaukee alone, the benefits are even greater at 76 percent saved for every $1 invested. The report emphasizes "a clear economic motive" for expansion of the 4K program to a significantly larger number of children in the state. The proposed program would generate strong fiscal benefits for the state, such as reduction in crime and reliance on welfare, as well as benefits to the children and their families.

"Quality 4K helps all children come to school prepared to learn," said Elizabeth Burmaster, state superintendent of Wisconsin public schools. "This educational reason alone is enough to support the program."

Additionally, the economic analysis found that:

• Based on conservative estimates, implementing a high-quality, voluntary pre-k system increases total educational cost-benefits by 68 percent;
• The largest proportion of cost savings in the education system are in reduced special education placement costs (approx. $42 million); and,
• Reduction in frequency of grade repetition ranges between 6-23 percent, with a representative estimate of 21 percent.

** Download a PDF version of the report by clicking this link:
An Economic Analysis of Investments in Pre-Kindergarten in Wisconsin

Pre-K Now collaborates with state advocates and policymakers to lead a movement for high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten for all three and four year olds. We gratefully acknowledge past and present funders: The Pew Charitable Trusts, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Schumann Fund for New Jersey, the Foundation for Child Development, the Kellogg Foundation, the Joyce Foundation and the McCormick Tribune Foundation.

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