President Obama's call Tuesday for universal preschool has merit on three fronts -- scientific, academic and parenthood, said Kenneth Dodge, an expert on early childhood development.
"Long ago, we mistakenly believed that children did not really learn anything until the 'age of reason' at 7. Now we know that early experiences are crucial to lifelong outcomes," Dodge said Wednesday.
Read MoreThe proposal is aimed at helping to close achievement gaps between poor children and those who are better off. Dodge's research has shown that third-graders in North Carolina, for example, have higher standardized reading and math scores and lower special education placement rates in counties that received money for state programs such as Smart Start and More at Four.
Obama didn't offer a price tag for his idea. But Dodge's research has shown that the expected savings in special education and instructional costs for an average third-grader whose community had these state programs was at least equal to the cost of Smart Star and More at Four.
"We now have evidence that high-quality preschool experiences improve academic outcomes that persist at least through third grade," Dodge said Wednesday. "If we are investing in education from kindergarten forward, we should invest in preschool as a way to improve those outcomes."
The News & Record of Greensboro reported that about 67,000 children statewide may be eligible for the state program, which now enrolls about a third of that number.
Pre-K programs can also help parents who aren't home with them because they work, he said. "The case for universal preschool education is well accepted by child development experts, but this perspective has not yet penetrated all of society," Dodge said. "Part of the gap in understanding is due to the slow pace at which scientific discoveries reach the public. Part of the gap may be due to a misunderstanding that preschool would replace the parent's role, but most effective preschools, in fact, support the parent and enhance the parent's impact."