"Early Childhood Education"

W. Steven Barnett, NIEER Director

Chapter 1 in the book School Reform Proposals: The Research Evidence (Information Age Publishing, 2002), edited by Alex Molnar.

Summary of Findings:

Pre-kindergarten education for disadvantaged children can greatly increase their cognitive abilities, leading to long-term increases in achievement and school success. Although general cognitive abilities as measured by IQ may only temporarily increase, persistent increases can be produced in the specific abilities measured by standardized achievement tests in reading and math. In addition, programs can have positive effects on children's long-term social and emotional development, reducing crime and delinquency. To reap all of their potential benefits, pre-kindergarten programs for disadvantaged children must be intensive, high in quality, and emphasize both cognitive and social development.

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