Preschool education programs, also called early childhood education (ECE) or early childhood education and care (ECEC) programs, are center-based interventions that foster children’s cognitive and social-emotional development. Programs usually focus on children who are at least three years old but not yet old enough to enter formal schooling. Preschool programs typically are offered for a half-day or a full school day. Black, Hispanic, and Native children and children from families with low incomes are less likely to be enrolled in preschool or have access to high quality preschool than white children and children from families with higher incomes and are less likely to be prepared for kindergarten as a result. (author abstract)