Heckman et al. discuss how cost-benefit analysis of prekindergarten education programs demonstrates that the highest per child benefits stem from programs that focus on economically disadvantaged children. Indeed, studies have shown that these children make significant gains in cognition, social-emotional development, and educational performance when they participate in high-quality early education programs relative to children who don't participate. The economic benefits of these gains include increased earnings of the participants and public savings due to reduced crime and reduced need for rehabilitation and treatment. Cost-benefit analysis also shows that these benefits are higher than those from public investments like sports stadiums or office towers. Elements that determine a successful early childhood program include well-trained and well-paid staff members as well as a high intensity of services. Early education studies as well as neuroscience and developmental psychology strongly suggest the first few years of life are critical for learning in both cognitive and noncognitive domains. Investments in early education are thus vital to the success of later investments made in K-12 schools. When faced with a fixed budget, policymakers should reallocate their investments from later years to early years. Business leaders and business-minded policymakers are speaking up about the economic wisdom of investing in early childhood programs, but progress on early childhood initiatives has not been steady.