Does Quality Preschool Improve Future Health and Social Well-Being?

Participation in high-quality preschool was associated with a wide range of positive outcomes at age 24 years.

Prior research has shown that high-quality preschool for low-income children improves academic achievement and behavioral development. However, these findings derive primarily from two trials of model programs characterized by small class size, small child-to-teacher ratio, excellent teacher qualifications, planned curricula, and an administration outside a public bureaucracy. To determine if publicly funded preschool programs for low-income children can achieve these results, investigators collected educational and behavioral information prospectively since 1985 on 1539 low-income minority children from Chicago who attended the school-based Child-Parent Center (CPC) program in 1979 or 1980. The CPC is a high-quality early childhood educati…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Martin T. Stein MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics