Critics of early childhood education continue to claim that the benefits disappear by the time children reach third grade. However, Steve Barnett, Co-Director of NIEER counters:

“Absolutely not! A new NIEER study that provides an objective summary of all the research on preschool education’s effects finds substantial positive effects on achievement, special education, grade retention, and social behavior at ages 10 and higher. This is really the last nail in the coffin of the idea that preschool effects disappear at third grade. If you look at all the research — don’t cherry pick for results — it shows that long-term effects are robust even if smaller than initial effects. The idea that preschool effects fade out by third grade originated with one flawed study in the early 1960s, and this belief continues to be propagated by those who cite a few methodologically weak newer studies.”

Click here to read more about the study or to view the video:
http://nieer.org/docs/?DocID=245