Subprime Learning: Early Education in America Since the Great Recession
Posted on: Wednesday February 12th, 2014
As the US recovers from the Great Recession, pre-k and early learning have moved into the national spotlight. Advocates, organizers and policymakers alike recognize the overwhelming benefits of early care and learning programs in boosting student achievement and closing achievement gaps. So far in 2014, 32 states and Washington, D.C., have introduced more than early education 75 bills.
However, according to a report from the New America Foundation, the conversation around early education still veers too much towards lip service rather than actually building high-quality early care and education systems.
"Subprime Learning: Early Education in American Since the Great Recession" examines learning from birth through third grade and tracks state and federal investments since 2009. The report looks at a variety of indicators that measure student achievement, family well-being and funding.
"Our analysis finds that in the wake of a financial crash triggered by subprime lending, too many children in America have been experiencing subprime learning. While bright spots are visible in some states, funding has fluctuated wildly, millions of children still lack access to quality programs, the K–3 grades have received little attention, and achievement gaps in
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