Top 20 Resources

Need to make the case for investing in quality early childhood education for disadvantaged children? Videos, scientific papers, infographics and research summaries—these resources have proven to be the most effective. Get the facts—download, share, embed in your website and check back for new resources.

  1. Perry Preschool: Intergenerational Effects Toolkit View Toolkit

    Clicking the “Download” button will send a zip file to your computer’s Downloads folder. Professor Heckman’s recent research looks at the life outcomes of Perry Preschool participants at midlife, as well as outcomes of their children. After putting the data through a series of rigorous tests, Heckman finds that those children who participated in the…

  3. Make Your Case on Social Media: Sample Content View Page

    Make your case for early childhood development and education using these social media posts and links to relevant resources and research. The posts are divided up by topic to make it easy to find what you need. All posts meet the length requirements for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. You can even mix and match the…

  4. Research Presentation for Birth-to-Three Advocates View Presentation

    Professor Heckman’s research proves that starting earlier has the greatest returns. Birth-to-three advocates can use Heckman’s ROI to advance investments that begin at birth. This presentation includes a break down of Professor Heckman’s ECE research and the key policy implications.

  5. Research Summary: The Lifecycle Benefits of an Influential Early Childhood Program View Summary

    This two-page summary discusses the key takeaways of Professor Heckman’s latest research, “The Lifecycle Benefits of an Influential Early Childhood Program.” The research shows that high-quality birth-to-five programs for disadvantaged children can deliver a 13% per year return on investment—a rate substantially higher than the 7-10% return previously established for preschool programs serving 3- to…

  6. Early Childhood Education Has a High Rate of Return Watch Video

    A video excerpt of a 2010 speech Professor Heckman gave to business leaders and policymakers in Chicago. He states that quality early childhood education programs for disadvantaged children have high rates of return and warrant public investment. His presentation is followed by testimonials from business leaders and policymakers who talk about the value they see…

  7. The Heckman Curve View Share Graphic

    The Heckman Curve shows that the highest rate of economic returns comes from the earliest investments in children, providing an eye-opening understanding that society invests too much money in later development when it is often too late to provide great value. It shows the economic benefits of investing early and building skill upon skill to…

  8. Early Childhood Education: Quality and Access Pay Off View Summary

    This two-page summary document is for those who need to prove that government investment in early childhood education for disadvantaged children pays off for individuals and society. Early Childhood Education is a comprehensive investment of government-subsidized early childhood development programs—including Head Start. Heckman and co-authors Sneha Elango, Jorge Luis García and Andrés Hojman find that…

  11. Nurse-Family Partnership: Parental Education and Early Health Result in Better Child Outcomes View Summary

    Read the latest summary of Professor Heckman’s research on the Memphis Nurse-Family Partnership Program. This research puts a widely-known voluntary home visiting program through its most rigorous analysis to date and finds important short- and long-term impacts for mothers and their children. Learn more at The University of Chicago’s Center for The Economics of Human Development.…

  12. 4 Big Benefits of Investing in Early Childhood Development View Summary

    Preventing the achievement gap, improving health outcomes, boosting earnings and providing a high rate of economic return—this one-page document summarizes the benefits of investing in quality early childhood education for disadvantaged children. This document is often shared with policymakers, advocates and the media to make the case for early childhood education. Improving the economy, strengthening…

  13. How to Use Professor Heckman’s Work View Summary

    This is a two-page message framework advocates can use to motivate policymakers and other influentials to invest in quality early childhood education for disadvantaged children. This resource can be used as a guide for crafting persuasive talking points to business leaders, policymakers or other potential advocates. The Message: Nobel Memorial Prize Laureate Professor James Heckman…

  14. An Analysis of the Memphis Nurse-Family Partnership Program View Academic Paper

    Professor Heckman’s latest research is a critical analysis of the Memphis Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program. This research puts a widely-known voluntary home visiting program through its most rigorous analysis to date and finds short- and long-term impacts for mothers and their children. Select download to review the full academic paper. Learn more at The University…

  15. Research Summary: Abecedarian & Health View Summary

    A topline, one-page summary of the North Carolina Abecedarian preschool program analysis that tracks the participant’s education, employment and health outcomes to age 35. Heckman finds significant health benefits beyond education and increased employment, particularly in reducing the incidence of costly chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and obesity. This summary makes the…

  16. Research Summary: Perry Preschool and Character Skill Development View Summary

    This two-page research summary provides proof that social and emotional development in early childhood development drives better education, health, social and economic outcomes. Heckman highlights the influence that character skills have on school, career and life success, and provides guidance for how advocates and policymakers can use the research to promote effective social and economic change.…

  19. Early Childhood Investments Substantially Boost Adult Health View Academic Paper

    This 2014 Science article features an analysis of the health benefits derived from the North Carolina Abecedarian project in North Carolina, a birth-to-five early childhood education program that included early health, nutrition, and learning. Heckman and co-authors from the Frank Porter Graham Institute at the University of North Carolina find that comprehensive early childhood education boosts…

  20. Invest in Early Childhood Development: Reduce Deficits, Strengthen the Economy View Summary

    In this two-page summary document, Professor Heckman argues that the best way to reduce deficits is to invest in quality early childhood development for disadvantaged children. It creates better education, health, social and economic outcomes that increase revenue and reduce the need for costly social spending. “The highest rate of return in early childhood development…

  21. The Case for Investing in Disadvantaged Young Children View Academic Paper

    In this 10-page excerpt from “Big Ideas for Children: Investing in Our Nation’s Future,” Professor Heckman discusses his early findings on the need for early childhood education and the economic benefits of providing it. Written while Heckman and his team were still analyzing the economic returns from the Perry Preschool project, it provides the foundation…

  22. No Fadeout. Lasting Effects. Watch Video

    This video explains the concept of fade up, not fadeout. It illustrates the misconceptions of basing lifelong achievement on third-grade test scores, and how success in life stems from more than cognitive factors.