The Net Benefits of Early Childhood Investments: Findings, Implications and a Texas Agenda

There has been a dramatic increase in interest in and research on early childhood investments in the 1980s and 1990s. Early intervention, while costly, can yield near- and long-term returns for children and their families, taxpayers, and society as a whole. Failure to intervene can lead to unrealized potential, substantial public and private costs, and a society operating far below its full capacity. This report primarily addresses the question, What are the net benefits associated with targeted early childhood investments in Texas?Texas Department of Human ServicesRay Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resource