We know that children who attend high quality child care programs and elementary schools get off on a much stronger footing in both learning and life. But what about the impact of various other opportunities, like after school clubs, music lessons and sports?
This was the question a team of researchers tried to explore over more than a quarter century: their landmark study followed more than 800 children from infancy into adulthood, across the many settings and activities they engaged in.
The culminating report, which was published last week, found that these “opportunity gaps” have big consequences for young children—even playing a role in educational progress and earnings many years down the road.
Read more on opportunity gaps
This story by my former colleague Lillian Mongeau looks at how children who rely on federally-funded child care vouchers to pay for care often can only access low-quality care.
In May, Axios analyzed opportunity gaps for children in several cities, including Houston and Boston.
Quick Take
Material hardship is increasing among child care staff, in part due to student loan payments restarting, according to a new report by RAPID, an early childhood survey project at Stanford University.
More Early Childhood News
“These Fort Worth ISD preschoolers are going to school at community child care centers. Why?” Star-Telegram
“Prekindergarten expansion for private providers off to a slow start” Maryland Matters
“Child care or rent? In these cities, child care is now the greater expense” USA Today
This story about opportunity gaps was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for the Early Childhood newsletter.
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