The United States is at a pivotal crossroads in determining the educational experiences of children aged 3 through 8. To help educators set goals and design effective policies, early childhood experts Clifford and Crawford provide a concise history of early education and care in the United States and invite readers to consider early schooling in a global perspective. Distinguished scholars from five countries that value early education as an integral part of life-long learning--France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, and Sweden--examine the evolution of early childhood practices in their countries. Providing invaluable insight and guidance as we move toward fully serving children and families in our schools, this volume:

• Identifies common themes and challenges among six economically advantaged countries, and contrasts their different approaches to educating young children.
• Features international contributors that identify the critical issues and decisions from their own countries' perspectives.
• Describes the social forces that are leading the United States toward universal access to school beginning at age 3.

International contributors: Véronique Francis (France), Michael Gaffney (New Zealand), Inge Johansson (Sweden), Hans-Guenther Rossbach (Germany), and Reiko Uzuhashi (Japan)