Over the past decade, public investments in early childhood education have increased, and policymakers have focused on creating high-quality, sustainable preschool programs. However, largely missing from early childhood policy discussions is consideration of classroom diversity and how it affects the equity, quality, and sustainability of preschool programs. Studies have shown that socioeconomically and racially diverse preschool classrooms offer important cognitive and social benefits for children, but few children enrolled in public preschool programs have access to these types of classrooms.

Join us on April 29 to hear what we know about racial and economic diversity in Head Start and state pre-K classrooms, how diversity and quality are linked, and what steps policymakers can take to increase diversity in preschool classrooms.

Opening Remarks:

  • Mark Zuckerman, President, The Century Foundation
  • U.S. Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), Ranking Democratic Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce

Panel Discussion:

  • Jeanne L. Reid, Research Scientist, National Center for Children and Families at Teachers College, Columbia University; co-author (with Sharon Lynn Kagan) of A Better Start
  • Michael Hilton, Policy Analyst, Poverty & Race Research Action Council; contributor to A Better Start
  • Halley Potter, Fellow, The Century Foundation; contributor to A Better Start
  • Philip Tegeler, Executive Director, Poverty & Race Research Action Council (moderator)

Research for A Better Start was supported by The Century Foundation and the Poverty & Race Research Action Council and led by Jeanne L. Reid and Sharon Lynn Kagan of the National Center for Children and Families at Teachers College, Columbia University.

For more information about this event, please contact [email protected].