Book excerpt: There is a lot of talk in the air about how we need to be a more frugal government. But we also have to know when we are going to spend Federal money, how and where do we get the bang for the buck. There is significant evidence that says early childhood education pays the bill. We all know the moral arguments behind investing in our children, but we also have to look at the economic and intellectual benefits of early childhood education and making sure that it is of high quality. From programs such as Head Start and Early Head Start, there does appear to be evidence that children who participate in those programs are more likely to graduate, they are more likely to be productive in the workforce and more likely not to engage in dysfunctional behavior. Some studies have shown that for every dollar we invest, our society seems to get a return on investment of $16. Quality early childhood education and childcare are critically important to ensuring future generations of students are prepared for the 21st century.