The Promise of Preschool : From Head Start to Universal Pre-Kindergarten

The past 45 years have seen the emergence of education for young children as a national issue, spurred by the initiation of the Head Start program in the 1960s, efforts to create a child care system in the 1970s, and the campaign to reform K-12 schooling in the 1980s. Today, the push to make preschool the beginning of public education for all children has gained support in many parts of the country and promises to put early education policy on the national agenda. Yet questions still remain about the best ways to shape policy that will fulfill the promise of preschool. In The Promise of Preschool, Elizabeth Rose traces the history of decisions on early education made by presidents from Lyndon Johnson to George W. Bush, by other lawmakers, and by experts, advocates, activists, and others. Using this historical context as a lens, the book shows how the past shapes today's preschool debate and provides meaningful perspective on the policy questions that need to be addressed as we move forward: Should we provide preschool to all children, or just to the neediest? Should it be run by public schools, or incorporate private child care providers? How do we most effectively ensure educational quality and success? The Promise of Preschool is a balanced, in-depth investigation into these and other important questions and demonstrates how an understanding of the past can stimulate valuable debate about the care and education of young children today. ## Abstract How did the United States move from seeing preschool as a way to give the nation's poorest children a “head start” to seeing preschool as the beginning of public education for all children? Advocates and policymakers have recently had remarkable success at expanding preschool in many parts of the country, and are gaining support for federal action as well. Yet questions still remain about the best ways to shape policy that will fulfill the promise of preschool. The Promise of Preschool investigates how policy choices in the past forty‐five years—such as the creation of Head Start in the 1960s, efforts to craft a child care system in the 1970s, and the campaign to reform K‐12 schooling in the 1980s—helped shape the decisions that policymakers are now making about early education. In addition to exploring the sources of today's preschool movement, the book also examines policy questions such as, should preschool be provided to all children, or just to the neediest? Should it be run by public schools, or incorporate private child care providers? What are the most important ways to ensure educational quality? By looking at these policy issues through the lens of history, the book offers a unique perspective on this important area of education reform, and explores how an understanding of the past can help spur debate about today's decisions. How Did The United States Move From Seeing Preschool As A Way To Give The Nation's Poorest Children A 'head Start' To The Goal Of Providing Preschool For All Children As The Beginning Of Public Education? This Book Investigates How Policy Choices In The Past 45 Years Helped Shape The Decisions That Policymakers Are Now Making. Elizabeth Rose. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 233-271) And Index. Traces the history of decisions on early education made by American presidents, law makers, and other key figures, and explores whether preschool should be provided to all children, whether it should be public or privately run, and what are the most effective ways to ensure a quality education