Program Effectiveness
Research Report
Pre-K Cost Tools
Measuring Preschool Costs and Revenues: Issues and Answers
Date
September 19, 2002
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
Chapter 1: Classroom Costs
Chapter 2: Non-Classroom Costs
Chapter 3: Unreported Costs
Chapter 4: Transportation Costs
Chapter 5: Facilities Costs
Chapter 6: Revenues
A Bibliography of Cost Studies in Early Education
Survey Instruments
University of Colorado-Denver: Economics Department Cost Quality Outcome Survey
Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center
PHDCN Child Care Cost Survey
McCormick Tribune Child Care Cost Study
Abt Associates
Massachusetts Cost and Quality of Early Childhood Education
National Institute for Early Education Research
New Jersey Cost Survey
The Authors
W. Steven (Steve) Barnett is a Board of Governors Professor and the founder and Senior Co-Director of the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University. Dr. Barnett’s work primarily focuses on public policies regarding early childhood education, child care, and child development.