Uc Science Today

The preschool system in America needs a lot of improvement. That’s according to Bruce Fuller, a professor of education at the University of California, Berkeley. “Preschool in America is about 50 years behind preschool in Europe, preschools in Scandinavian countries like Finland or Sweden. Even UK, which has a more conservative political history. These countries fund high quality pre-K for low income and true middle class families. They might not subsidize pre-K for wealthy families, but for the true middle-class quality pre-K is pretty well funded.” America’s approach is quite different. “In many parts of the country the lowest quality pre-K are in true middle class communities, communities where families earn $52-53,000 a year. They don’t qualify for government subsidies, but they can’t pay high fees." So Fuller says very often low qualified pre-K teachers get hired. “And it is really the middle class of America that’s hurt the most."