Should free, public preschool be universally available?

High-quality preschool which prioritizes both children’s emotional growth and skill development has been shown by research to greatly improve their readiness for elementary school and potentially their long-term outcomes. Free, public preschool would also provide an additional year of childcare, benefitting parents around the country. As a result, many people have begun to advocate for universal preschool. It is also important to consider, however, the potentially large cost of such an expansion of the public schooling system. So, should free, public preschool be universally available?

investigate

Additional resources to think about

What Boston Can Teach Us About Free Universal Preschool Education | WNYC
This clip from WNYC looks at Boston as a case study in universal preschool and how this might translate on a national scale.

A Look At California's Universal Preschool Program | CBS Los Angeles
In this segment, CBS news reports on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s bill to provide free transitional kindergarten to all 4-year-olds in the state.

The Case For Universal Pre-K Just Got Stronger | NPR’s Planet Money
This article discusses research by the National Bureau of Economic Research about the potential economic benefits of universal preschool.

What Does 'High-Quality' Preschool Look Like? | NPR Ed
This NPR Ed piece takes a deep-dive into a public preschool classroom in Oklahoma.

contemplate

Who created this message?

What kind of “text” is it?
How similar or different is it to others of the same genre?
What are the various elements (building blocks) that make up the whole?

What creative techniques are used to attract my attention?

What do you notice (about the way the message is constructed)?
What’s the emotional appeal?
What makes it seem “real?”
What's the emotional appeal? Persuasive devices used?

How might different people understand this message differently from me?

How many other interpretations could there be?
How could we hear about them?
How can you explain the different responses?

What lifestyles, values, and points of view are represented in, or omitted from, this message?

What type of person is the reader/watcher/listener invited to identify with?
What ideas or perspectives are left out?
How would you find what’s missing?
What judgments or statements are made about how we treat other people?

Why is this message being sent?

What's being sold in this message? What's being told?
Who is served by or benefits from the message
– the public?
– private interests?
– individuals?
– institutions?

5 Key Questions of Media Literacy used with permission from the Center for Media Literacy.
Copyright 2002-2021, Center for Media Literacy, www.medialit.com

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