Children of diverse backgrounds holding hands around Earth.

Nation Out of Step: An Early Childhood Education Manifesto for 2026

Education is the engine of progress and prosperity. A nation that underinvests in its children’s earliest years limits its own future. Neuroscience and economics now converge on a simple truth: what happens from birth to age five shapes the brain, health, behavior, and earning power for life—and early childhood education is where that development can be steered toward success.