Early Childhood
Education news, analysis, and opinion about children from birth through kindergarten.
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 Play-Based Learning Yields More Joy, Higher Scores at This Elementary SchoolTeachers who have incorporated guided play into their lessons say they've seen students thrive.
Early Childhood Q&A How One Mayor Is Working to Expand Pre-K AccessMayor Brett Smiley discusses early education access and workforce development.
Early Childhood 100-Plus Head Start Programs Will Go Without Federal Funds If Shutdown Drags OnThe programs were due to receive their federal funding allocations Nov. 1.
Early Childhood Explainer Play-Based Learning in Kindergarten Is Making a Comeback. Here's What It MeansAmid rigorous academic expectations in the early grades, some advocates push for a return to play.
Early Childhood Q&A As Pre-K Expands, Here's What Districts Need to KnowAs states seek to expand universal pre-K, an early education policy expert offers insight.
Early Childhood Letter to the Editor Kindergartners Need Learning That Honors Play, Joy, and DiscoveryA retired kindergarten teacher explains what she thinks the curricula lacks in this letter to the editor.
Early Childhood Q&A This State Is the First to Offer Universal Child Care. Here's How It WorksHear from the head of New Mexico's early childhood department on why universal child care is so important.
Early Childhood How Old Should a Kindergartner Be? Parents and Districts Clash Over Cutoff DatesAs some districts and states strictly enforce kindergarten cutoff dates, parents feel the squeeze.
Early Childhood Head Start Confronts More Funding Disruptions and Policy WhiplashProgram operators have struggled to draw down routine funding, and puzzled over how to comply with confusing policy directives.
Early Childhood Download 7 Ways to Help Kindergartners Regulate Their Emotions (DOWNLOADABLE)Teachers report a surge in kindergartners struggling to regulate their emotions. This tip sheet has steps on how to respond.
Early Childhood Q&A How a State's Transitional Kindergarten Expansion Has Gone So FarCalifornia is gearing up to help more 4-year-olds get ready for kindergarten.
Early Childhood ‘Crying, Yelling, Shutting Down’: There’s a Surge in Kindergarten Tantrums. Why?Educators are reporting a surge in the number of kindergartners coming to school unable to regulate their emotions. What's going on?
Early Childhood Letter to the Editor Why Head Start Remains a Smart Investment for AmericaFull funding of Head Start is about strengthening our nation’s social and economic fabric, says this letter to the editor.
Early Childhood The Expectations for Kindergarten Have Changed. How Teachers Are AdaptingHere's how three kindergarten teachers keep the fun in formative learning.
Early Childhood Trump Allies Say the Case for Head Start Is Weak. Researchers Say They're WrongHead Start critics oversimplify research to justify calls for its closure, researchers said.
