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 K-12 Essentials Forum Early Childhood Education: Building Essential Skills for SuccessJoin this free virtual event to examine the biggest challenges in supporting young children, from preschool through elementary school.
Early Childhood Get in Line! Pre-K Expansion May Force 4-Year-Olds to Act Like Older StudentsExperts explain why lines for little kids don't make sense, and offer alternatives.
Early Childhood Q&A If District Leaders Support Pre-K, Then Why Is It Not a Top Priority?Superintendents can empower other leaders to nurture and grow their district's pre-K program.
Early Childhood Q&A The Pre-K Push: Are Current Preschool Models Heading the Wrong Way?Dale C. Farran has spent five decades studying early education, and shares her insights with EdWeek.
Early Childhood Hey Diddle Diddle: What the Decline of Nursery Rhymes Means for Early LiteracyNursery rhymes aren't just a quaint nod to the past: They're an engaging way to grow literacy skills.
Early Childhood Opinion Finland Is a Model of Academic Success. The Reason Starts Earlier Than I ThoughtLearning about community comes before academics in Finnish preschools, writes a teacher educator.
Early Childhood Does Pre-K Give Kids a Lasting Edge? Here's What the Latest Study SaysSeveral researchers have studied the effects of pre-K on future academic success, with mixed results.
Early Childhood Head Start Providers Struggle as Trump Admin. Holds Up Funding CompetitionsAt least 85 Head Start providers serving more than 39,000 children across 38 states are in limbo.
Early Childhood What This Rural Head Start Program Stands to Lose With Federal ChangesThe federal government just announced plans to de-regulate Head Start. Here's what this might mean.
Early Childhood Trump Admin. Moves to Dismantle Head Start Quality StandardsThe Trump administration announced plans to dismantle the federal regulations that have defined Head Start for decades.
Early Childhood Could Public Preschool for 2-Year-Olds Become the Next Pre-K?New York City and New Mexico have started "2-K" programs. But are they sustainable?
Early Childhood Why Boys Start Kindergarten Behind GirlsKindergarten readiness data tell us that gender gaps start as soon as school does.
Early Childhood Too Young to Test? How Teachers Feel About Early Childhood AssessmentsA growing number of early elementary public school students are required to take assessments.
Early Childhood Q&A This State Has a New Kindergarten Assessment—No Computer, Pen or Paper RequiredThe assessment evaluates 16 items in four separate foundational skills categories.
Early Childhood Why 'Looping' in Pre-K Helps KidsAs states seek to expand pre-K and teachers report students' lack of readiness, looping may help.
