Kids who are exposed to music perform better in school: students in high-quality school music education programs score higher on standardized tests compared to students in schools with deficient music education programs, regardless of the socioeconomic level of community.

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However, the survey found 69% of young people thought high-quality training was available to school-leavers.

BBC: High-quality training is available, young people say

While high-quality, part-time pre-school education (for three- and four-year-olds) seems to help children cope with school, dumping babies in nurseries all day long before they are one is also pretty clearly bad for them.

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Yet studies show that children from low-income families are less likely to have access to high-quality early education, and less likely to enter school prepared for success.

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In particular, studies show that children from low-income families are less likely to have access to high-quality early education, and less likely to enter school prepared for success.

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We have also taken the lead in fighting for the resources students need to meet higher standards, high-quality professional development for teachers, and after-school and summer-school schemes to help children who may be falling behind.

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We aim to not only open more high-quality public schools across the country but also to have a transformative impact on the traditional school system.

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"It is absolutely critical that at this time of public sector austerity measures, we do all we can to ensure the now un-ring-fenced School Lunch Grant continues to be channelled towards catering and that school meals remain high quality, nutritious and above all, as affordable as possible for parents, " she said.

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Comprehensive early childhood programs like the Early Head Start and Head Start programs and state pre-kindergarten programs with high quality standards lead to better cognitive growth, improved behavior, better health and greater school success.

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