Research on the High/Scope Model

From its beginnings as the Perry Preschool Project, the High/Scope program has conducted research on program effectiveness. Because of the diligence of the program founders, some of the best long-term research on the effectiveness of early childhood programs for children from low-income families comes from High/Scope. Having kept track of former students for about 40 years, the program research provides convincing evidence of the values of early education. Schweinhart et al. (2005) summarizes these findings from interviews with former students who are now adults:

• A higher percentage of High/Scope students had completed high school than non-program students.
• Fewer students had been arrested.
• More adults from High/Scope had a job at age 40 than those not attending the program.
• Program graduates had median annual earnings that were $5,000 higher as adults.
• Nearly three times as many former students owned their own homes.
• Fewer female students had treatment for mental impairment or had to repeat a grade.

These results translate into considerable savings to the public. Lower costs for special education, jails, and police interventions; higher income levels; and less reliance on welfare services all mean that early intervention programs can be highly cost-effective. Schweinhart (2003) estimates a savings of approximately $7.00 for every dollar invested in early intervention programs.