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A Benefit-Cost Analysis of the Tulsa Universal Pre-K Program

Author

Listed:
  • Timothy J. Bartik

    (W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research)

  • JOnathan A. Belford

    (Child Trends)

  • William T. Gormley

    (Georgetown University)

  • Sara Anderson

    (West Virginia University)

Abstract

In this paper, benefits and costs are estimated for a universal pre-K program, provided by Tulsa Public Schools. Benefits are derived from estimated effects of Tulsa pre-K on retention by grade 9. Retention effects are projected to dollar benefits from future earnings increases and crime reductions. Based on these estimates, Tulsa pre-K has benefits that exceed costs by about 2-to-1. This benefit cost ratio is far less than the much higher benefit-cost ratios (ranging from 8-to-1 to 16-to-1) for more targeted and intensive pre-K programs, such as Perry Preschool and the Chicago Child-Parent Center (CPC) program. Comparing benefit-cost results from different studies suggests that our more modest estimates are due to two factors: 1) smaller percentage effects of pre-K on future earnings and crime in Tulsa than in Perry and CPC, and 2) smaller baseline crime rates in Tulsa than in the Perry and CPC comparison groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Timothy J. Bartik & JOnathan A. Belford & William T. Gormley & Sara Anderson, 2016. "A Benefit-Cost Analysis of the Tulsa Universal Pre-K Program," Upjohn Working Papers 16-261, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:upj:weupjo:16-261
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bartik, Timothy J. & Gormley, William & Adelstein, Shirley, 2012. "Earnings benefits of Tulsa's pre-K program for different income groups," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 1143-1161.
    2. Philip Babcock & Kelly Bedard, 2011. "The Wages of Failure: New Evidence on School Retention and Long-Run Outcomes," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 6(3), pages 293-322, July.
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    4. Heckman, James J. & Moon, Seong Hyeok & Pinto, Rodrigo & Savelyev, Peter A. & Yavitz, Adam, 2010. "The rate of return to the HighScope Perry Preschool Program," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(1-2), pages 114-128, February.
    5. Eliana Garces & Duncan Thomas & Janet Currie, 2002. "Longer-Term Effects of Head Start," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 92(4), pages 999-1012, September.
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    9. Clive R. Belfield & Milagros Nores & Steve Barnett & Lawrence Schweinhart, 2021. "Corrigendum to “The High/Scope Perry Preschool Program: Cost–Benefit Analysis Using Data from the Age–40 Followup”," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 56(3), pages 969-969.
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    Cited by:

    1. Reid, Jeanne L. & Melvin, Samantha A. & Kagan, Sharon Lynn & Brooks-Gunn, Jeanne, 2019. "Building a unified system for universal Pre-K: The case of New York City," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 191-205.

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    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality

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