Early Childhood Cost Modeling
Early childhood cost models allow stakeholders to understand the true costs of an early childhood system. Cost estimation analyses take into account a range of factors that affect system costs, including:
- Costs of child care at different quality levels and settings
- Local cost drivers, such as salaries and operational costs
- Characteristics of children participating in the system
- Administrative and infrastructure costs
- Implementation factors, such as doseage and fidelity to program design
Cost estimation projects also map current funding across a range of programs and domains, including child care, family supports and home visiting programs, and health and mental health care.
For more information about BRC’s work in this area, visit our Program Areas page.
Project Examples
Colorado Child Care Assistance Program Evaluation
The Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab at the University of Denver is evaluating the Colorado Department of Early Childhood's activities to strengthen and expand the early childhood sector in Colorado with the support of over $465 million in American Rescue Plan Act...
Alternative Rate Methodology for Colorado Child Care Assistance Program Reimbursement Rates
The Colorado Department of Early Childhood, established in July 2022, provides a broad range of programs and services to young children, their families, and early childhood professionals. The Department oversees the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP),...
Colorado Universal Preschool Program Per-Child Rate Formula Development
Colorado HB22-1295 established the Colorado Universal Preschool Program to provide expanded services for the state’s young children. Beginning fall 2023, the program will include access to preschool services for all children in the year preceding kindergarten;...
Toledo Pre-K Evaluation
Toledo, Ohio is engaged in a multi-year process to provide high-quality preschool to all children in Toledo. Brodsky Research is assisting with the evaluation and data component of the project. Andrew Brodsky has been involved in this process since late 2018, when a group of stakeholders in Toledo coalesced to bring preschool to the city. The project is currently in a demonstration phase, enrolling underserved children in high-quality providers in select neighborhoods in the city
Strengthening Colorado’s Early Childhood Workforce
BRC is partnering with the Butler Institute at the University of Denver to better understand the economic contribution of the child care sector, and to determine sustainable strategies for building a highly qualified workforce.
Colorado Early Investment Model
The Colorado Early Investment Model is the first interactive model to map costs and benefits of a state’s entire early childhood system. The model was commissioned by the Colorado Early Childhood Leadership Commission (ECLC) to help stakeholders better understand the scope of the state’s current EC system, and the costs associated with expanding the system.
Latest News
Colorado Preschool Development Grant Cost Evaluation and Needs Assessment
Colorado’s Preschool Development Grant (PDG) provides $33.5 million to support Colorado’s vision that all children are ready for school when entering kindergarten. Colorado Shines Brighter, the state’s PDG B-5 initiative, works to maximize the number of high-quality early care and education options available to families, especially families identified as vulnerable and underserved such as those living in rural areas, families of infants and toddlers, and families of children with special needs.
Strengthening Colorado’s Early Childhood Workforce
BRC is partnering with the Butler Institute at the University of Denver to better understand the economic contribution of the child care sector, and to determine sustainable strategies for building a highly qualified workforce.
Presentation at the Early Childhood Social Impact Performance Advisors Conference
Each year, the Annual Conference of the Early Childhood Social Impact Performance Advisors hosts one of the nation’s most dynamic conversations about the feasibility, research, and policy implications of Pay for Success programs. The conference is organized by the Institute for Child Success, Ready Nation, and Sorenson Impact Center at the University of Utah, with whom I partner as a Senior Research Fellow.
Presentation on Pay For Success at Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference
Last week I had the opportunity to present on the opportunities and challenges presented by Pay For Success programs in early childhood. Two early childhood PFS are already in progress in the U.S. – in Chicago and Utah — and another has just been launched in South Carolina.
Two Definitions of Child Care Quality
As I think about the conversations I heard about early childhood in the past year, I find people are usually speaking the same language. At conferences, in journals, and in legislative chambers, those of us who live within the early childhood realm generally agree...
Andrew Brodsky Partnering With Policy Innovation Lab On Pay For Success TA
I’m excited to be working with the Policy Innovation Lab at the University of Utah’s Sorensen Global Impact Investing Center to help develop Pay For Success programs across the Western U.S. The PIL works across sectors to develop innovative, data-driven...
The Five Warning Signs Of EAU (Evaluation As Usual)
Is your organization suffering from Evaluation As Usual (EAU)? Symptoms of EAU include overly enthusiastic language about successes, wish-washy discussion of potentially negative results, and a general lack of objective and critical data analysis and discussion....
EC State Advisory Councils Final Report Highlights Colorado and New York Cost-Effectiveness Models
The final report from the Early Childhood State Advisory Councils, released in May, documents the $92 million awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to 45 states to help build higher-quality early childhood systems. The funding touched the lives...
Cool New Cost Effectiveness Tool From Center For Cost-Benefit Studies
Apart from the words “free ice cream”, there’s nothing more exciting in my mailbox than an e-mail that says “new web-based cost-effectiveness tool.” Given the approximately 550$ billion we spend on K-12 education alone in this country, understanding the impact of...
What Programs Are Appropriate For Pay For Success?
In April I had the opportunity to participate in a panel on Pay For Success (PFS) programs at the annual Early Childhood Social Impact Performance Advisors Conference in San Diego. Jointly sponsored by the Institute for Child Success and ReadyNation, the conference...