New research reveals that students who learn more in kindergarten earn more as adults. Students who progress from attaining an average score on the Stanford Achievement Test to attaining a score in the 60th percentile during their kindergarten year can expect to make about $1,000 more a year at age 27 than students whose scores remain average. Those who learn more in kindergarten also are more likely to go to college and less likely to become single parents.
Harvard University economist John Friedman says the impact of increasing kindergarten teacher experience looks really big for students long-term success. He says the study should highlight for policymakers the importance of kindergarten classes for students in all demographics.
