Early Childhood
Read about how daycare, preschools, Head Start, and kindergarten can set children up for success in school
What age is early childhood education?
The age requirements for pre-K and kindergarten varies by location and are mostly set by state law. Preschool or pre-K students are usually ages 3 or 4. Read more about the expansion of pre-K.
18 states require that a child turns age 5 before the beginning of September to be able to enter kindergarten. Read more about kindergarten age cutoffs.
18 states require that a child turns age 5 before the beginning of September to be able to enter kindergarten. Read more about kindergarten age cutoffs.
Is kindergarten mandatory?
As of 2023, at least 17 states and the District of Columbia require children to attend kindergarten, according to the Education Commission of the States. Where kindergarten is optional, parents weigh many factors when deciding whether to send their child to kindergarten, including their emotional maturity, their physical size, and the family’s child-care situation.
Are Head Start and preschool the same?
There’s no national standard for preschool programs. Their aim is to help children who are 3 or 4 years old acquire the academic and interpersonal skills they’ll need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. Preschool programs can be public and funded by states or the federal government and run by school districts or other organizations, or private and tuition-based. Read more about preschool.
Head Start, a federal child-development program for low-income children, was started in 1964 as part of the War on Poverty. Among other programs, it funds local preschool programs. As of 2023 it served about 532,000 children. Read more about Head Start.
Head Start, a federal child-development program for low-income children, was started in 1964 as part of the War on Poverty. Among other programs, it funds local preschool programs. As of 2023 it served about 532,000 children. Read more about Head Start.
What is universal pre-K?
Universal pre-K means that any student who meets the age criteria is able to attend; funding and availability stretches to cover all eligible students. Universal pre-K is offered in four states and the District of Columbia, as of the 2025-26 school year. Eight other states have universal eligibility, which means that any student can attend if they meet the age requirement, if there are enough spots available for them. Read more about universal pre-K.
Early Childhood 9 Steps for Early-Grade Teachers to Make Play Part of LearningKimberly Nesbitt, an early education researcher, breaks down the 'hows' and 'whys' of guided play.
Early Childhood Video A Charter School Finds 'Looping' Strategy Benefits Youngest StudentsCapital City Public Charter School, the first parent-founded charter school in the nation’s capital, takes a unique approach to early learning.
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Early Childhood Tech for Young Students: Do 1:1 Devices Belong in Kindergarten Classrooms?The majority of K-2 students have 1-to-1access to computing devices in their classrooms. Should they?
Early Childhood What Teachers Really Want From Kindergartners Isn’t AcademicReading readiness barely registers on teachers' wish list. Here's what counts.
Early Childhood More Principals Now Lead Preschools. But Are They Ready for It?Strong efforts to train principals in early-childhood education are still scattered and scarce.
Early Childhood Q&A The Unspoken Reason Men Turn Away From Careers as Early EducatorsCalvin Moore Jr. gets honest about why so few men are early-childhood teachers and how to fix it.
Early Childhood Who’s Responsible for Toilet Training? Schools or Families?Districts grapple with how to respond when students aren't toilet-trained.
Early Childhood 5 Ways to Build Oral Language in Young LearnersHearing and practicing language leads to stronger literacy skills.
Early Childhood Teachers Blame Parents for Young Learners' Deficits. But There's a Bigger StoryTeachers and parents are experiencing similar levels of stress caring for and educating kids.
Early Childhood What Are the Ingredients of a Good Preschool Curriculum?Nonprofit curriculum reviewer EdReports has started reviewing pre-K materials.
Early Childhood State Pre-K Hits Record Enrollment, But Advocates Caution About QualityState-sponsored preschool programs enrolled 1.8 million children in 2024-25, a new report finds. But some were higher quality than others.
Early Childhood Kindergartners Aren't Talking Enough in Class. Why That MattersIn the quest to develop young readers, oral language takes a back seat to the written word, say experts.
Early Childhood Q&A What One Researcher Saw Inside 29 Kindergarten ClassroomsDevelopmental psychologist Susan Engel shares insights from two years in kindergarten classrooms.
Early Childhood 'Addicted to Screens': Teachers Sound the Alarm on Their Youngest StudentsToo many students are entering school unprepared to learn, according to a national survey of early educators.
