Public radio from Western Michigan University 102.1 NPR News | 89.9 Classical WMUK
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Interviews with news makers and discussion of topics important to Southwest Michigan. Subscribe to the podcast through Apple itunes and Google. Segments of interview are heard in WestSouthwest Brief during Morning Edition and All Things Considered

WestSouthwest August 16, 2018

WestSouthwest logo
WMUK

On WestSouthwest, we have a rebroadcast of an interview from earlier this year on the impact that pre-school can have on a child's education and beyond.

Upjohn Institute Researchers Tim Bartik and Brad Hershbein joined WMUK's Gordon Evans for an interview that originally aired in May. They are co-authors of a working paper on the impact of high-quality pre-school.

Bartik and Hershbein say that high-quality pre-school can have long-lasting effects that benefit those children into adulthood. But they say identifying quality is the key. The research shows that majority African-American districts with pre-k programs have seen greater increases in math and reading scores. Bartik says that's in line with research showing students from disadvantaged backgrounds get more benefits from preschool education. 

There has been rapid growth in enrollment of children in pre-kindgarten programs. Hershbein says the problem is that if pre-school is being expanded quickly without the funding necessary for quality, it may not have the desired benefits. 

Gordon Evans became WMUK's Content Director in 2019 after more than 20 years as an anchor, host and reporter. A 1990 graduate of Michigan State, he began work at WMUK in 1996.
Related Content