"Measuring Preschool Costs and Revenues: Issues and Answers"

A Summary Report of the 2002 Early Education Cost Symposium
September 19–20, 2002
Edited by W. Steven Barnett and Pamela J. Kelley

Summary

The goal was simple – to improve the methods for gathering and analyzing data used to determine the cost of providing early education. Researchers attending the Early Education Cost Symposium discussed methods for capturing both costs and revenues and related measurement issues. The summaries of individual presentations and roundtable discussions included in this report present the most current approaches to data collection and provide a forum to discuss issues and problems in this research.

School administrators, policymakers and cost researchers will find this report a valuable reference for collecting the most useful types of cost information for evaluating and making decisions regarding resource allocation to early education programs. In addition to the papers, the report contains a bibliography of cost studies and sample survey instruments provided by the symposium participants. It is hoped the recommendations and guidelines presented in this report will assist those collecting preschool cost information and point the way toward future research.

Report Materials

Executive Summary

Participant Biographies

Chapter 1: Classroom Costs
Chapter Outline
Complete Chapter

Chapter 2: Non-Classroom Costs
Chapter Outline
Complete Chapter

Chapter 3: Unreported Costs
Chapter Outline
Complete Chapter

Chapter 4: Transportation Costs
Chapter Outline
Complete Chapter

Chapter 5: Facilities Costs
Chapter Outline
Complete Chapter

Chapter 6: Revenues
Chapter Outline
Complete Chapter

Appendix A: A Bibliography of Cost Studies in Early Education

Survey Instruments

Appendix B1:
University of Colorado-Denver: Economics Department Cost Quality Outcome Survey

Appendix B2:
Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center
PHDCN Child Care Cost Survey
McCormick Tribune Child Care Cost Study

Appendix B3:
Abt Associates
Massachusetts Cost and Quality of Early Childhood Education

Appendix B4:
National Institute for Early Education Research
New Jersey Cost Survey

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