Benefits of Government-Funded Preschool Over the past decades, studies have shown the abundant benefits to pre-kindergarten education. These studies arrive conclusively at the verdict that preschool not only prepares students for elementary education, but also has a number of long-term benefits, many of which remain evident well into a child’s adult years. Despite this knowledge, many children of low income families do not attend preschool for reasons that are solely financial. The government has the responsibility to fund and mandate universal preschool programs, in order to provide all children with the same early education opportunities. Preschool gives young children a variety of advantages over their peers who go directly to kindergarten.…show more content… Prekindergarten education is a transition period between direct parental supervision and full-day schooling, and it helps young children adjust to the new expectations of their conduct. Kathleen McCartney, dean of Harvard School of Education, says, “[Students in preschool] learn how to socialize -- get along with other children, share, contribute to circle time… Kindergarten teachers will tell you that the students who are ready to learn are those who come into school with good social and behavior-management skills” (Kanter). A child who has never experienced a classroom setting before kindergarten will often react negatively to the foreign environment and become anxious, rowdy, or…show more content… While it is true that reading and math scores between those who did attend preschool and those who did not level out around third or fourth grade, there a several benefits that do not show a “fade out” effect and help students long after their elementary school days are over. In a study that compared low income families who received money to send their children to preschool to families who were not offered aid, preschool-attending students were 30 to 50% less likely to commit a crime in their lifetimes. This is a result of improved social conduct at an age where life-long behaviors form. “Learning how to be well behaved as a young child, it turns out, is one of the strongest predictors of adult success” (Entman). In a similar study, results showed that girls who participated in the program had a significantly higher rate of graduation than girls who did not. Men who participated in the study as children had higher than average salaries and rates of home ownership. All adults with preschool education in the study were much less likely to rely on government services like welfare