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An Economic Analysis of Pre-K in Arkansas

According to Dr. Belfield’s economic analysis, Arkansas’ pre-k investment to date will yield $2.32 for every $1 state leaders have allocated for the Arkansas Better Chance pre-k program for at-risk children. If the program were extended to all children, Arkansas would conservatively yield $1.58 in future cost savings. The analysis focused on the returns to Arkansas taxpayers in terms of public sector benefits and did not address the direct gains to the participating children and families or the economic growth produced by the pre-k sector itself in local economies (such as new jobs, revenues to educational suppliers, etc). Arkansas’ potential savings mirrors that of similar pre-k economic studies conducted in Wisconsin, Ohio, Massachusetts, and New York.