Excerpts from the report:
What are the French keys to success for providing a more equal start for all children in school and in life? These include: voluntary, free, preschool for all 3to 5-year-olds; additional resources invested in the most disadvantaged areas; an emphasis on very young children; the integration of children from immigrant backgrounds through immersion in the French language and culture; and comprehensive social support for children's and families' needs. Perhaps the most important lesson from the French experience is that within a system of universal services, it is possible to accord additional resources and support to children from more disadvantaged backgrounds. Indeed, without this universal approach, it is difficult to ensure that children from low-income and immigrant backgrounds receive quality early learning experiences.