Preschool

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President Biden's First Address to Congress: Insights from RAND

President Joe Biden addressed a joint session of Congress, summarizing his administration's early COVID-19 response and outlining plans that aim to loosen the pandemic's year-long grip on a weary nation. The speech reflected the fact that the United States faces policy challenges across a wide range of domains.

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Early Childhood Education and Care Services Across the European Union Member States Still Fall Short of the Mark

Children's access to education and care from a young age is vital. Large differences exist between EU countries in access to those services and the quality of child care. Bridging the gap would require more efforts at the EU and national levels to guarantee that each child has access to services that will have lasting effects on their development.

Barbara Janta, Carlijn Straathof

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Taliban, Health Care, Russia: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on U.S.-Taliban peace talks, what single-payer health care really means, comparing threats from Russia and China, and more.

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How Early Childhood Education and Care Can Help to Tackle the Impact of Childhood Disadvantage

Disadvantaged children underperform educationally partly because on average they experience more risk factors. Interventions to address multiple causes of underperformance for disadvantaged children may have a better chance of success. The calibre of early childhood education and care professionals also likely matters.

Tom McBride, Julie Belanger

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High-Quality Early Childhood Programs Can Change Lives

The most comprehensive look to date at the benefits of early childhood education found that 102 of 115 programs improved at least one outcome for children beyond a statistical doubt. And the economic and social benefits continue to pay dividends, sometimes well into adulthood.

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In Britain's Approach to Free Child Care, Lessons for the U.S.

If public school in America is free for kindergarten through high school, why not extend the same guarantee for the earliest years, when the potential impact is greatest? The United States can learn from Britain's experience in this area.

Barbara Janta

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Are the Effects of the Economic Crisis Still Impacting Children in Europe?

If EU member states do not invest in early childhood education and care now, negative long-term effects may follow in future years. Unfortunately, it might be the case that the fallout of the economic crisis is blocking some of the investments that need to be made.

Daniel Schweppenstedde, Barbara Janta, et al.

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State of the Union 2016: Insights on Obama's Last Address

RAND research, analysis, and expertise provide context for many of the issues discussed in President Barack Obama's final State of the Union address, including the threat of ISIS, global climate change, and bringing peace to Syria.

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Hawaii Reading Scores Improved After 'Preschool to Third Grade' Initiative

Hawaii's “preschool to third-grade” initiative significantly improved third-grade reading scores. The P-3 approach is a promising education reform that should be considered by those seeking to improve early education performance.

Gail L. Zellman, M. Rebecca Kilburn

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A Comprehensive Approach to Early Education

A relatively new approach to improving long-term educational outcomes, called “preschool to third grade,” or P-3, focuses on the youngest students. Hawaii's recent initiative has been successful at raising third-grade reading scores.

Gail L. Zellman, M. Rebecca Kilburn

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Tech for Tots

When it comes to youngsters and technology use, how much is too much? How young is too young? RAND is on the case, to help prepare children for success in school and life.

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Helping Teachers Overcome Technology Barriers in Early Childhood Education

When it comes to helping children appreciate the benefits of using technology in a classroom setting, early childhood education providers play a critical role integrating that technology appropriately, intentionally, and productively. But these educators face myriad barriers to fulfilling these roles.

Lindsay Daugherty, Rafiq Dossani

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Access to Technology Is Key to Early Childhood Education

For children from all income classes to benefit from the proper use of technology in early childhood education, providers, families, and children themselves must have access to an adequate technology infrastructure, including devices, connectivity, and software.

Lindsay Daugherty, Rafiq Dossani

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Narrowing the Income Achievement Gap

The achievement gap between children from the highest- and lowest-income families has substantially grown since 1960. The income achievement gap is now about twice the size of the black-white achievement gap.

Heather L. Schwartz @schwartz_hl

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State of the Union 2014: President Obama Calls for a Year of Action

Obama called for “a year of action” to achieve his 2014 agenda — from helping people sign up for health insurance, to immigration reform, to completing the mission in Afghanistan. RAND is committed to raising the level of public policy debates and offering evidence-based, actionable solutions.

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To Eliminate the 'Readiness Gap,' Preschool Is Just the Beginning

Preschool for four-year-olds should be as common as kindergarten is for five-year-olds. Ultimately, the goal should be the elimination of the readiness gap through expanded access to preschool, written materials in the home, and technology that could improve delivery of such materials.

Michael D. Rich @michaeldrich

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RAND Researchers Discuss Early Childhood Development

Joe Dougherty summarizes key points from a media conference call with RAND experts on early childhood development and education.

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The President's Early Childhood Expansion Should Take a 'Portfolio' Approach

A optimal approach to strategically expanding access to early childhood programs is one that helps states and communities identify evidence-based approaches that address their particular needs, within the context of their characteristics, writes M. Rebecca Kilburn.

M. Rebecca Kilburn

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Bernanke Knows a Good Investment When He Sees One

Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve System Ben S. Bernanke cited RAND studies that have documented the importance of investing early in children's learning as he made the case that early education programs are one of the best investments that society can make in its future.

Lynn A. Karoly

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Preschool Pays Off

Published commentary by RAND staff: Preschool Pays Off, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Dana Schultz

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Benefits of Preschool Come with Every Dollar

Published commentary by RAND staff: Benefits of Preschool Come with Every Dollar, in the Los Angeles Times.

Lynn A. Karoly, James H. Bigelow