By Alexandra Figueras-Daniel and W. Steven Barnett
NIEER Policy Brief (Issue 24, January 2013)
Summary
As the United States works to reclaim economic prosperity, the Hispanic population – with the largest growth in population over the last decade – will likely play a key role in any economic resurgence. Educational success is a crucial part of economic recovery. While statistics on the educational success of Hispanic children are hardly encouraging, high-quality early education programs, especially models that promote language proficiency, have the potential to increase their educational success. This brief addresses issues of preschool access and quality that are specific to Hispanic children but which can also apply to some other largely disadvantaged and immigrant groups.