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Impact of high quality early education and care on children’s lives

Kerry McCuaig University of Toronto, Canada Copenhagen, June 23, 2014. Impact of high quality early education and care on children’s lives . Regarding the good life for children. Creating a good life for small children is not part of the Canadian discourse. We “invest’ in children to:

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Impact of high quality early education and care on children’s lives

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  1. Kerry McCuaig University of Toronto, Canada Copenhagen, June 23, 2014 Impact of high quality early education and care on children’s lives

  2. Regarding the good life for children • Creating a good life for small children is not part of the Canadian discourse. We “invest’ in children to: • Improve education outcomes/closing the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged groups • Human capital development/global competition • Labour market stability • Demographic considerations

  3. Relative poverty rates for 3 at-risk groups

  4. Factors affecting school achievement – Age 11 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 Effect size Family income Health Father ed. Preschool Mother ed. SES Primary school N. 3,000

  5. N: 3,000

  6. Duration matters (months of developmental age) 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 low-quality average high-quality Developmental advantage (months) 2-3 years 1-2 years ECE program attendance

  7. EDUCATION OUTCOMES/DISPARITY Outcomes linked to qualityPreschool quality and self-regulation andpro-social behaviour (age 11) 0.30 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.05 0.00 Preschool quality low Effect size medium high Pro-social behaviour Self-regulation

  8. What makes a quality environment? • Five areas were particularly important: • Quality of the adult-child verbal interaction • Knowledge and understanding of curriculum • Knowledge of how young children learn • Adults skilled in helping children resolve conflicts • Helping parents to support children’s learning at home Huntsman, L. (2008)

  9. HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT 3 U.S. studies

  10. HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT Cost-benefit Perry Preschool study per participant at 40 years old ($17.07:1) Schweinhart L.J. et al (2005);Belfield, C., et al (2006)

  11. Participation in quality ECEC associated with • Educational achievement improved • Special education and grade repetition reduced • Behaviour problems, delinquency and crime reduced • Employment, earnings, and welfare dependency improved • Smoking, drug use, depression reduced Resulting in decreased costs to government in education, health, social services and policing and justice

  12. Mothers labourforce participation rate by age of child: Canada 1976-2012

  13. LABOUR MARKET/DEMOGRAPHICS What has low cost ECE done for Quebec? • 70,000 more mothers are working • They generate $1.5-billion annually in taxes • And draw $340-million less in social transfers • Boosting the GDP by $5-billion Source: Fortin, P., Godbout, L., & St-Cerny. (2012).

  14. LABOUR MARKET/DEMOGRAPHICS Quebec mothers have: • Moved Quebec from the bottom to the top in female labour force participation in Canada • Halved child poverty rates • Halved social assistance rates for lone parents • Boosted fertility • Reduced vulnerability in children starting school and increased student test scores Source: Fortin, P., Godbout, L., & St-Cerny. (2012).

  15. LABOUR MARKET/DEMOGRAPHICS Done right early education and care pays for itself For every dollar Quebec spends on ECE, it collects $1.60 in increased taxes and reduced family payments Source: Fortin, P., Godbout, L., & St-Cerny. (2012).

  16. Canada: 10 provinces,3 territories 13 education systems

  17. New trends • Merger of education and early education • Team teaching between ECEs and teachers for ages 3-5 years • Emergent, play-based programming • Promising outcomes for primary level education • Mixed results depending on primary education styles

  18. Why the schools? • More cost effective than a brand new social program • More politically palitable • Public education enjoys public confidence. Highest percentage enrolment of all the Anglo-American countries • Facilitates the building of strong relationships between children, families, the community and the school

  19. Early Education Report & Policy Monitor www.oise.utoronto.ca/atkinsonEarly Years Study 3www.earlyyearsstudy.cakerry.mccuaig@utoronto.ca

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