U.S. Lags in Early Childhood Education

OECD’s Education at a Glance 2023 shows the United States scores below the OECD average on participation in early childhood education and care (ECEC). That shortfall is notable alongside strengths such as high postsecondary attainment and large international student enrollment, implying uneven system performance across life stages. — Low ECEC participation has downstream implications for workforce participation, equality of opportunity, and the political case for federal and state early‑childhood investment.