From city halls to Congress, political leaders are embracing the potential benefits of early childhood education. And it’s none too soon. As a nation, we’re behind the curve. Just last month, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined two education leaders in the U.S. House – Reps. Richard Hanna, R-N.Y., and Bobby Scott, D-Va. – to pen an article highlighting America’s weak standing (31 out of 39) among advanced countries when it comes to preschool enrollment for 4-year-olds.
What other countries know – and what we’re just catching on to – is that early childhood education can yield a high return on investment. Most prominently, Nobel Laureate James Heckman has shown that early childhood investments improve cognitive development; build the so-called soft skills – such as motivation and self-control – that children need for lifelong success; and reduce the social costs associated with fighting crime and poverty. Continue reading on U.S. News and World Report here.
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