President Obama's State of the Union Address emphasized the need for universal preschool. Kenneth DodgeDirector of the Duke Center for Child and Family Policy; professor of public policy, psychology and neuroscience, Duke University.Dodge is available today between 12:30 and 1 p.m. or between 3 and 4 p.m.dodge@duke.eduhttp://www.childandfamilypolicy.duke.edu/people_detail.php?p=dodge&t=fac... Dodge has been principal investigator for more than $100 million of research grants examining children's social-emotional development and evaluating the impact of various early intervention programs on parents and children. With Sanford School colleagues, he has written reports evaluating the impact of North Carolina's major early childhood programs, Smart Start and More At Four.Quote:"The need for universal preschool has at least three bases. First, scientific discoveries tell us that a great deal of brain development occurs in the first five years of life. 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. "Second, we now have evidence that high-quality preschool experiences improve academic outcomes that persist at least through third grade. Thus, if we are investing in education from kindergarten forward, we should invest in preschool as a way to improve those outcomes. "Third, more and more parents of young children are working outside the home, meaning that families need extra support in helping their young child learn. It used to be the case that we relied on stay-at-home mothers to act as their child's teacher until first grade. Today, parents can be more successful in raising and educating their preschool-aged child if they receive community support. "The case for universal preschool education is well accepted by child development experts, but this perspective has not yet penetrated all of society. 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."
