US News and World Report (6/10, Reinberg) reports that according to a University of Minnesota report, "children enrolled in a full-time preschool program that sees them through elementary school," when observed 25 years later, have "higher incomes, higher education levels, a higher socioeconomic status and are less likely to abuse drugs or be involved in criminal activities. ... They are also more likely to have health insurance coverage." The research found that males and at-risk students were particularly helped. Researchers "followed 1,386 children, 989 of whom were enrolled in the Chicago-based Child-Parent Center Education Program from 1983 to 1989, and 550 who weren't. ... All the children went to full-day kindergarten and received social services."
The AP (6/10, Tanner) reports that the study tracked the "mostly black Chicago kids for up to 25 years," noting that the "ongoing publicly funded program focuses on language development, scholastic skills and building self-confidence. It involves one or two years of half-day preschool, and up to four additional years of educational and family services in grade school." The AP focuses in on one of the study's subjects, who now works as an HVAC contractor, who at 31, "has strong memories of preschool field trips to the library, zoo and planetarium where he learned to love science. He says he'll never forget the strong influence of his preschool teachers."
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