Clarence Page: Boys in the back of the class

Article here. Excerpt:

'Obama’s emphasis on “high quality” is important. Preschool intervention programs vary in quality. But, at their best, they help child to make the most of their early learning years at a time when their learning and study habits are formed.

One recent federal evaluation of Head Start, which is aimed at low-income preschoolers, found parents benefitted, too, by learning to use more appropriate discipline and spend more time reading to their children.

“Every dollar we invest in high-quality early education can save more than seven dollars later on,” President Obama said, announcing his idea during his State of the Union Address.

And there’s another potential benefit that the president didn’t mention: Prekindergarten programs can help reverse a disturbing gender gap favoring girls in academic performance that, according to new studies, is showing up as early as kindergarten.'