New Book: Cradle to Kindergarten: A New Plan to Combat Inequality

February 23, 2017

The period between birth and kindergarten is a critical time for child development, as socioeconomic disparities that begin early in children’s lives contribute to starkly different long-term outcomes for adults. Yet, compared to other advanced economies, high-quality child care and preschool in the U.S. are scarce and prohibitively expensive for many middle class and most disadvantaged families. To what extent can early-life interventions expand opportunities for these children and contribute to reduced social inequality in the long term?

A new RSF book, Cradle to Kindergarten: A New Plan to Combat Inequality, diagnoses the obstacles to accessible early education and offers a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy to promote opportunity for all children. Ajay Chaudry (New York University), Taryn Morrissey (American University), Christina Weiland (University of Michigan), and Hirokazu Yoshikawa (New York University) propose federal paid parental leave, an expansion of the child care tax credit, and universal, high-quality pre-school beginning at age three.

Read more or purchase a copy of the book.

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