Attempts to redefine equal educational opportunities not only in terms of spending, but also in terms of student performance, are important, but if all students are to achieve a certain level of academic achievement, we must broaden our understanding of how children learn and what influences their capacity to learn and ensure that financial resources are provided for child and family-support services that begin at birth. This article reviews the research that forms the basis for this recommendation and describes the School of the 21st Century as an approach to optimize the growth and development of children and their ability to profit from academic instruction.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Albee, G. W.
(1986). Toward a just society: Lessons from observations on the primary prevention of psychopathology.American Psychologist, 41, 891-898.
2.
Berrueta-Clement, J.
, Schweinhart, L. J., Barnett, W. S., Epstein, A. S., & Weikarft D. P. (1984). Changed lives: Effects of the Perry preschool program on youths through age 19. Ypsilanti, MI: High/Scope.
3.
Boyer, E.
(1992). Foreword. In Zero to Three/National Center for Clinical Infant ProgramsHeart start: The emotional foundations of school readiness. Arlington, VA: Author.
4.
Consortium of Longitudinal Studies.
(1983). As the twig is bent. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
5.
DeBarc, I.
(1991, August 25). Tough to know whom to trust: Rules lax in big industry. Sacramento Bee.
6.
Economic Policy Institute.
(1986). Family income in America. Washington, DC: Family Policy Institute.
7.
Finn-Stevenson, M.
, Ward, B., & Raver, C. (1989). Implementation of the School of the 21st Century progress report. Working paper, Bush Center in Child Development and Social Policy, New Haven, CT.
8.
Friedman, D.
(1987). Family supportive policies: The corporate decision making process. New York: Conference Board.
9.
Garmezy, M.
(1985). Stress resistant children: The search for protective factors. In J. E. Stevenson (Ed.), Recent research in developmental psychopathology (pp. 213-233). Oxford: Pergamon.
10.
Giles, D.
(1993). Financing alternatives for the School of the 21st Century. Working paper, Bush Center in Child Development and Social Policy, New Haven, CT.
11.
Gore, S.
(1980). Stress buffering functions of social supports: An appraisal and clarification of research models. In B. S. Dohrenwend & B. P. Dohrenwend (Eds.), Stressful life events: Their nature and effects. New York: Wiley.
12.
Hayes, C. D.
, Palmer, J. L., & Zaslow, M. (Eds.). (1990). Who cares for America's children?Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
13.
Hofferth, S. L.
, & Phillips, D. A. (1987). Child care in the United States 1970-1995.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 559, 559.
14.
Institute of Medicine.
(1988). Prenatal care: Reaching mothers, reaching infants. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
15.
Klerman, L.
(1991). Alive and well? A research and policy review of health programs for poor young children. New York: National Center for Children in Poverty.
16.
National Center for Children in Poverty.
(1993). Five million children: 1993 update. New York: Author.
17.
National Commission on Children.
(1993). Opening the doors to America's children. Washington, DC: Author.
18.
National Commission on the Role of the School and the Community in Improving Adolescent Health.
(1990). Code blue: Uniting for a healthier youth. Alexandria, VA: National Association of State Boards of Education.
19.
Payzant, T. W.
(1992). New beginnings in San Diego: Developing a strategy for interagency collaboration.Phi Delta Kappan, 74(2), 139-146.
20.
Reisman, B.
, Moore, A., & Fitzgerald, K. (Eds.). (1988). Child care: The bottom line. New York: Child Care Action Campaign.
21.
Reischauer, R.
(1987). An analysis of the U.S. job market. Washington, DC: Congressional Budget Office.
22.
Richardson, J.
, Dwyer, K., McGuigan, K., Hansen, W., Dent, C., Johnson, C. A., Sussman, S. Y, Brannon, B., & Flay, B. (1989). Drug and alcohol use among eighth grade children who look after themselves after school. Pediatrics, 84, 556-566.
23.
Rutter, M.
(1976). Research report, Institute of psychiatry department of child and adolescent psychiatry.Psychological Medicine, 6, 505-516.
24.
U.S. Department of Labor.
(1993). Employment and earnings, 40(1). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor.
25.
Whitebook, M.
, Phillips, D., & Howes, C. (1989). Who cares? Child care teachers and the quality of care in America. National Child Care Staffing Study, Child Care Employee Project.
26.
Zero to Three/National Center for Clinical Infant Programs.
(1992). Heart start: The emotional foundations of school readiness. Arlington, VA Author.
27.
Zigler, E.
(1987). A solution to the nation's child care crisis: The School of the 21st Century. In Investing in the beginning. St. Louis, MO: Parents as Teachers National Center.
28.
Zigler, E.
, & Finn Stevenson, M. (1993). Children in a changing world: Development and social issues. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
29.
Zigler, E.
, & Lang, M. (1991). Child care choices: Balancing the needs of children, families, and society. New York: Free Press.
30.
Zigler, E.
, Taussig, C. L., & Black, K. B. (1992). Early childhood intervention: A promising preventative for juvenile delinquency.American Psychologist, 47,997-1006.
