pdf [5.3MB] - Department of Families, Housing, Community Services

TABLE 3-15: BCR OF ECE PROGRAMSSource: Isaacs (2006).Karoly et al (2005) presented comparisons of a range of ECE CBAs that have beenundertaken in the past. These are presented in Table 3-16. As can be seen, in most cases,the larger component of the benefits accruing from ECE programs apply to the participants ofthe programs, rather than the rest of the community. This can be explained in terms of thetargeted nature of the programs (i.e. some programs have targeted high risk ordisadvantaged children). Universal programs would not be expected to generate specificbenefits such as reduced crime and reliance on welfare to this extent. Due to the broadnature of programs, benefits that apply can vary in terms of participants, parents and thegovernment. Another important point to be noted is that studies that follow up on participantsat a later age have higher BCRs due to more time for benefits to take effect and accumulate.79