Although findings on the positive effects of early childhood development programs have been widely disseminated, less attention has been given to program impacts across the entire period of early childhood. This review summarizes evidence on the effects and cost-effectiveness of programs and services from ages 3 to 9. The major focus is preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds, full-day kindergarten, school-age programs including reduced class sizes, and preschool-to-third-grade interventions. Participation in preschool programs was found to have relatively large and enduring effects on school achievement and child well-being. High-quality programs for children at risk produce strong economic returns ranging from about $4 per dollar invested to over $10 per dollar invested. Relative to half-day kindergarten, the positive effects of full-day kindergarten have been found to be relatively small and generally do not last for more than a year. Although no formal economic analyses have been conducted, the economic return per dollar invested would be expected to be close to zero. Among early-school-age programs, preschool plus school-age interventions (PK-3) for children at risk are linked to higher levels of school performance into adolescence. The Child-Parent Center PK-3 Program shows a return of $6 to $9 per dollar invested. Class-size reductions show evidence of positive effects, with economic returns of roughly $3 per dollar invested. The causal mechanisms of long-term effects are discussed. Key principles to promote intervention effectiveness are offered.

中文翻译：

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从学前班到三年级的具有成本效益的幼儿发展计划。

尽管有关幼儿发展计划积极影响的研究结果已广泛传播，但对计划对整个幼儿期的影响却鲜有关注。本综述总结了 3 至 9 岁计划和服务的效果和成本效益的证据。主要重点是针对 3 岁和 4 岁儿童的学前计划、全日制幼儿园、包括减少班级规模的学龄计划，以及学龄前到三年级的干预措施。研究发现，参与学前计划对学业成绩和儿童福祉具有相对较大且持久的影响。为有风险的儿童提供的高质量计划会产生强劲的经济回报，从每美元投资约 4 美元到每美元投资超过 10 美元不等。相对于半日制幼儿园，已发现全日制幼儿园的积极影响相对较小，一般不会持续一年以上。尽管尚未进行正式的经济分析，但预计每投资一美元的经济回报将接近于零。在学龄早期计划中，针对高危儿童的学前加学龄干预 (PK-3) 与进入青春期的更高水平的学校表现有关。儿童家长中心 PK-3 计划显示每投入一美元可获得 6 至 9 美元的回报。班级规模的减少显示出积极影响的证据，每投资一美元，经济回报约为 3 美元。讨论了长期影响的因果机制。提供了促进干预有效性的关键原则。尽管尚未进行正式的经济分析，但预计每投资一美元的经济回报将接近于零。在学龄早期计划中，针对高危儿童的学前加学龄干预 (PK-3) 与进入青春期的更高水平的学校表现有关。儿童家长中心 PK-3 计划显示每投入一美元可获得 6 至 9 美元的回报。班级规模的减少显示出积极影响的证据，每投资一美元，经济回报约为 3 美元。讨论了长期影响的因果机制。提供了促进干预有效性的关键原则。尽管尚未进行正式的经济分析，但预计每投资一美元的经济回报将接近于零。在学龄早期计划中，针对高危儿童的学前加学龄干预 (PK-3) 与进入青春期的更高水平的学校表现有关。儿童家长中心 PK-3 计划显示每投入一美元可获得 6 至 9 美元的回报。班级规模的减少显示出积极影响的证据，每投资一美元，经济回报约为 3 美元。讨论了长期影响的因果机制。提供了促进干预有效性的关键原则。针对高危儿童的学龄前加学龄干预 (PK-3) 与进入青春期的更高水平的学校表现有关。儿童家长中心 PK-3 计划显示每投入一美元可获得 6 至 9 美元的回报。班级规模的减少显示出积极影响的证据，每投资一美元，经济回报约为 3 美元。讨论了长期影响的因果机制。提供了促进干预有效性的关键原则。针对高危儿童的学龄前加学龄干预 (PK-3) 与进入青春期的更高水平的学校表现有关。儿童家长中心 PK-3 计划显示每投入一美元可获得 6 至 9 美元的回报。班级规模的减少显示出积极影响的证据，每投资一美元，经济回报约为 3 美元。讨论了长期影响的因果机制。提供了促进干预有效性的关键原则。