For the most high-risk children, enriched preschool environments and excellent primary grade instruction can be a deciding factor between success or failure that will follow them all their lives. That is why this book focuses mainly on early childhood environments and primary grade instruction. No time is as important, or as fleeting, as a child’s early years of life and schooling. Herein lies our greatest hope, and our most practical and effective opportunity for prevention.

Throughout the book we have tried to include the voices of a wide range of people—teachers, parents, pediatricians, volunteer tutors, and researchers. We also have provided vignettes of effective programs and interventions from around the country.