Early Childhood Education: Lessons from the States and Abroad, 2005

Early childhood education has received an increasing amount of attention in the last two decades in the United States and in other countries. There is now a strong consensus on the many benefits of preschool. Studies have shown that attending a high-quality preschool program not only increases children's readiness for kindergarten, but also causes positive long-term improvements in participants' school performance and social outcomes. Among the documented results of preschool education are lower rates of grade retention, increased rates of high school graduation, and less likelihood of being convicted of a crime for both juveniles and adults. Preschools have the greatest impact on children living in poverty and those who do not speak English at home. High-quality preschool programs act like preventative medicine: the initial investment more than pays for itself both financially and socially. This paper provides overviews of preschool practices in the United States and other countries. This paper also provides details of how four states--Georgia, Oklahoma, New York and Florida--have passed legislation to make pre-K programs available to all four-year olds. (Contains 2 tables.)