About Preschool Matters: NIEER spotlights national and international news regarding preschool education in its magazine, Preschool Matters. Each issue features articles on early education - from research studies and public funding to facilities development and teacher training. You can also read interviews with newsmakers (from government leaders and policymakers to researchers and advocates), thought-provoking columns from NIEER Director Steve Barnett, and more. In the latest issue: - Director’s Chair: A Race to the Top? By W. Steven Barnett - Can State Pre-K Be Saved? NIEER’s Latest Yearbook Shows State Pre-K Continued to Make Gains for 2008. But Without More Federal Aid, They Could Be Short-Lived. - Illinois: Building a Better ECE System Coordinating Resources Through an Early Learning Council Proved Successful - What Leads to Literacy? New Report Identifies Early Childhood Skills That Predict Later Reading, Writing and Spelling Ability. Experts Urge Caution in Applying the Findings. - Interview Senator Ted Kennedy on the Federal Role in Early Care and Education