The U.S. News and World Report – Lauren Camera
“No sooner did the two presidential candidates spar over their plans to boost early childhood education than new indicators showed just how far behind the U.S. is in providing access to such programs compared to other industrialized countries. Out of 36 countries, the U.S. ranked 29 in enrollment rates for its 3- and 4-year-olds, according to Education at a Glance 2016, the 500-page report released Thursday from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD. “This is an area where the U.S. is left behind by quite a large margin,” said Andreas Schleicher, director of the OECD’s Directorate for Education and Skills. “When you look at early childhood education and care, they are quite low by international standards.” In the U.S., 42 percent of 3-year-olds and 68 percent of 4-year-olds enrolled in early childhood or preschool programs in 2014 – far below the OECD average of 71 percent of 3-year-olds and 86 percent of 4-year-olds.”(more)