State Early Childhood Policy Technical Assistance Network

Seven Things

Seven Things Legislators (and Other Policy Makers) Need to Know About School Readiness

This resource packet was developed by the State Early Childhood Policy Technical Assistance Network (SECPTAN) to provide easy-to-use materials to explain the importance of school readiness of legislators and other policy makers.

Included in the resource packet are the following:

1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION:

This is a brief description of the seven points, both in paragraph form and as a set of key, bullet points;

2. POWERPOINT PRESENTATION:

This powerpoint presentation is for use in describing the seven points, suitable for a ten to fifteen minute presentation to new legislators, service clubs, advocacy groups, or any other forum;

3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

This document provides a more detailed, two-page description of each of the seven points, including a list of references for more detailed information (in folder pockets) and;

4. UNITED STATES CENSUS DATA:

This appendix provides national census workforce participation data, that can also be collected on a state basis, should states want state-specific information on this point.

5. Customizing the Seven Things

Included here is Iowa Data Customized to reflect the resource packet materials.

Benefit-Cost Studies of Four Longitudinal Early Childhood Programs: An Overview as Basis for a Working Knowledge

is a document that examines four frequently cited early childhood studies demonstrating strong, positive rates-of-return for their investments. While very different programs these four studies share the following common characteristics:

The programs that were evaluated were of very high quality, with an emphasis upon being comprehensive in their approach and sufficiently intensive to be able to address underlying child and family needs.
The programs were subject to rigorous evaluations with a strong counterfactual, in all but one case involving a randomized design.
The studies tracked children's progress over a substantial period of time.
The studies examined multiple effects on children and families, including educational impacts but including other societal impacts, as well.

This document includes a Table and Chart that provide thumbnail information about each of the four programs and the findings from the most recent evaluation of the costs and benefits reported from the study. It further breaks down, for each study, the returns from investment into three categories: economic benefits to participant in increased net earning, economic benefits to society in the reduced costs of crime to victims of crime, and economic benefits to taxpayers and government in reduced social costs and increased taxes.

Individuals and organizations are encouraged to adapt the resource packet materials in any way that makes sense to them. A CD is available from SECPTAN which provides all the information in the packet. The CD template may be manipulated to suit the needs of the user. SECPTAN has not copyrighted this information, but would request acknowledgement when this information is used.