Starting School at a Disadvantage: The School Readiness of Poor Children
Link:
Starting School at a Disadvantage: The School Readiness of Poor Children
Date:
March, 2012
Abstract:
With growing awareness of the importance of early years, federal and state governments have expanded their investments in young children. State spending on public prekindergartens, for example, increased each year from 2000 to 2009. The federal Head Start program has expanded to serve younger children, Congress enacted the new Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program two years ago, and the most recent “Race to the Top” competition included some funding for states’ systems of early childhood education. Even so, early childhood programs receive much less funding than public education. Moreover, early interventions are at risk for funding cuts, as federal and state budgets are squeezed by rising spending on health and retirement costs and falling tax revenues.
Author:
Julia B. Isaacs, Brookings Institution
Starting School at a Disadvantage: The School Readiness of Poor Children
Date:
March, 2012
Abstract:
With growing awareness of the importance of early years, federal and state governments have expanded their investments in young children. State spending on public prekindergartens, for example, increased each year from 2000 to 2009. The federal Head Start program has expanded to serve younger children, Congress enacted the new Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program two years ago, and the most recent “Race to the Top” competition included some funding for states’ systems of early childhood education. Even so, early childhood programs receive much less funding than public education. Moreover, early interventions are at risk for funding cuts, as federal and state budgets are squeezed by rising spending on health and retirement costs and falling tax revenues.
Author:
Julia B. Isaacs, Brookings Institution