We all want what’s best for America’s children—it is for this reason that debates over education policy can become so controversial. Recently, President Biden announced a proposal for a public pre-kindergarten program within the United States that would ensure all children within the United States have access to education prior to kindergarten, sparking debate on the efficacy of such a plan.

Those who support the U.S. providing public pre-k programming argue that doing so will provide all children with an equal footing, as all Americans would have access to this service, and not just the wealthy. They contend that putting in money now to fund this type of program will actually save money in the long-term as they claim that greater childhood education will make it less likely that the child will partake in socially unhealthy behavior such as drugs, alcohol, teenage pregnancy, and crime. Finally, they argue that children who attend pre-k programming have a “head start” and will be better able to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.

Those who oppose the U.S. providing public pre-k programming argue that such a policy would cost a lot of money for something that has dubious benefits. They argue that home life plays a much more important role in determining if a child will succeed than a pre-k program. Additionally, they may argue that pre-k programs actually can harm some children, as it takes them away from home at a young age and harms their development with their parents. Finally, they contend that any “head starts” pre-k may give a child will quickly disappear within the first few years of elementary school.

So, what do you think? Should the U.S. Provide Public Pre-K Programming? Students can answer Yes, it should; No, it should not; or a nuanced answer in between!

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Note: Ideal Think the Vote responses include the following:      

• Address the question asked in a thoughtful and meaningful manner     
• Use cited facts and constitutional arguments when appropriate to support their answers      
• Are expressed in cohesive sentences and are free of distracting spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors      
• They address counterarguments and opposing concerns in a respectful manner      
• They organize their answer in a manner that flows logically and reads clearly   

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