Terry Moe, a professor of political science at Stanford University, thinks Mr Draper should have opted for a limited programme for poor children.

ECONOMIST: V-day for vouchers?

In 2011, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), 39 states had state-funded pre-school initiatives (not including Head Start, the federal programme for poor children).

ECONOMIST: Despite budget cuts, reformers are pushing ahead

It would be a pity if they became just another government programme for the poor.

ECONOMIST: Community development finance