Thanks to universal pre-K programs in cities like New York and Seattle, more 3- and 4-year-olds have access to education than ever before. But one-third of American children are still underserved, and that’s a huge problem, argues child-development expert Suzanne Bouffard in her new book, The Most Important Year.
Studies show that children’s brains develop at a much faster rate during pre-K years, meaning better schooling then can lead to better skills later on–in reading, math, self-control and even parenting. That said, Bouffard stresses that public offerings could be even more effective if they prioritized features that help kids’ cognitive development–like highly trained teachers and open interactions with peers–over tests and heavy regulation.
But in any case, she concludes, it’s critical that pre-K become universally accessible because the kids “who often end up left out … are among those who most need the benefits it can provide.”
This appears in the September 04, 2017 issue of TIME.
- Essay: The Tyre Nichols Videos Demand Solemnity, Not Sensationalism
- For People With Disabilities, Losing Abortion Access Can Be a Matter of Life or Death
- Inside the Stealth Efforts to Smuggle Starlink Internet Into Iran
- Natasha Lyonne on Poker Face and Creating Characters Who Subvert Leading-Lady Tropes
- How to Help the Victims and Community After the Monterey Park Shooting
- Why Grocery Staples Are So Expensive Right Now
- Quantum Computers Could Solve Countless Problems—and Create a Lot of New Ones
- Where to Watch All of the 2023 Oscar Nominees
- How to Be Mindful if You Hate Meditating