Universal preschool

Universal preschool is an international movement that supports using public funding to provide preschool education to all families, not only those who can pay. Its stated goal is equity across socioeconomic backgrounds, so that children can build academic and social skills before they enter kindergarten. The movement frames preschool as a public responsibility with a global rather than purely local reach, and it argues that publicly funded provision would let more families send their children to preschool. As a policy idea it belongs to the debate over early childhood access, funding and equity.