But it's not enough. There is more to do in every community. Block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood, town by town, state by state, it is a daunting task. But it must be done. We know what needs to be done.
Successful examples abound.
Early Head Start programs in Chicago, Hawaii and San Antonio are models. The Charlotte-Mecklenberg system presents an education gift package to every new mother that includes booklets on helping your child learn in the first years of life. Hawaii's universal program has been a resounding success. To cite just one figure, Hawaii has reduced repeat cases of child abuse from 62 percent to 3 percent. What is missing is the national will to leave no child behind and the resources to make it happen.