Newsweek has an interview with David Kirp, author of "The Sandbox Investment: The Preschool Movement and Kids-First Politics" about the benefits of high-quality preschool. Some lawmakers have been advocating for more state-funded programs, but Kirp is concerned that politicians may set up preschools on the cheap that provide less benefit for kids. He believes there's a gap between the research, which  "shows that if a child goes to preschool they will have a higher income, are less likely to be involved in crime, more likely to graduate from college and have happier lives" and the kinds of programs available to folks. 

So what kind of preschool should you look for? Play-based with a good amount of creative chaos. In other words, steer clear of the preschools that focus on rote memorization or hitting certain literacy targets, as well as the ones where someone plunks eight kids in front of the TV all day. Kirp says that pre-K should help kids with social and emotional development, not just academic readiness for school. Word. No discussion in this article on whether preschool is better in the long term than being home with a parent who provides outside activities with peers.