Early-years education can mean better school results later

Obama's presidency has brought a shift in America’s priorities, devoting more effort and resources to kids who have not yet started formal schooling. This international trend seems to be paying off. The most recent report by the OECD, a rich-world think-tank, found that 15-yr-olds who had attended pre-schools for more than 1 yr performed better (even accounting for socioeconomic background) than those who had attended for only 1 yr or not at all. The Economist poses possible mishaps to consider.