This article first appeared in the opinion pages of the New York Times on September 15, 2013.
Related Resources
Investing in Our Children for Great Returns Watch Video
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…
Letter to the Budget Conference Committee View Statement
In October 2013, Professor Heckman sent a letter to the congressional conference committee tasked with negotiating a budget deal by mid-December, urging the conferees to consider smart investments in early childhood development programs as part of their budget plan. He attached a letter he sent in the fall of 2011 to the Joint Select Committee…
Presentation at the Education Writers Association National Seminar View Presentation
View Professor Heckman’s slide presentation and private speaking notes from his address at the Education Writers Association National Seminar in Palo Alto, California, on May 3, 2013.