Chicago

Chicago’s early childhood education landscape focuses on accessibility, community involvement, and innovative teaching methodologies. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) offers free, high-quality Pre-K for all four-year-olds through the “Chicago Early Learning” initiative. Private institutions like “Chicago City Day School” , “Francis W. Parker School”, and “Latin School of Chicago” emphasize experiential learning, personalized attention, and character development through dynamic curricula and fostering critical thinking skills.

Significant Influencers: John Dewey – Founder of the Dewey School at the University of Chicago, known for his work on progressive education. Elizabeth Harrison – Advocate for early childhood education and experiential learning.

Notable Paper: “The Productivity Argument for Investing in Young Children” by James J. Heckman – Demonstrates the economic benefits of early childhood education.