Quote from piezoe:
Yes, this is exactly what the studies show. The benefits of head start are truly remarkable. Its the single most bang for our educational buck. Without Head start, kids stay permanently behind. The head start kids don't do quite as well by high school graduation as the kids from upper socioeconomic circumstances, but they do far better than kids that don't get head start.
All kids regardless of socioeconomic circumstances need a program like head start, or its private sector equivalent, and that is what Obama is recommending. This can save billions down the road!
The data strongly suggests that whats important to educational outcome, beyond headstart, is socioeconomic integration in schools, this is far more important than racial integration, though they often are linked.
If the Obama initiative can lead to greater socioeconomic integration in headstart, that will be so much the better!