Does anyone know where exactly the cure for cancer or AIDS is? Clearly the answer is no, and that would be acceptable, as long as we used all the resources we have access to to find it. Unfortunately this is not the case. These resources, however, are not the most up-to-date computers or advanced biotechnology, but rather the minds of individuals in whom the genius necessary to produce such objects exists. These individuals, however, are not always as fortunate as others, financially. Although perfectly capable of enrolling in public school and receiving an education, children who hover at or below the poverty line are statistically less likely to achieve an educational level equal to that of their wealthier peers (Ferguson et al 702). Since public schooling begins at age five, and the critical period for child development occurs within the first few years of life, the most reasonable explanation behind this educational ineptitude must lie in the quality or lack thereof of a preschool experience . Therefore, I believe that providing additional early educational outreach opportunities to all disadvantaged youth can enable more beneficial development for the individual and reverse the effects of poverty, in turn having a positive impact on the national labor market. First, it is necessary to identify what exactly determines this school readiness. According to Kagan, “[it] establishes a fixed standard of physical, intellectual, and social development sufficient to enable children to meet specific academic requirements and assimilate the curriculum” (49). This standard is often used to determine whether or not an individual requires special education,...... middle of paper ......d Health 12.8 (2007): 701-06. National Institutes of Health. National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2007. Web. November 3, 2013.Isaacs, Julia B. Starting School at a Disadvantage: The School Readiness of Poor Children. Brookings.edu. The Social Genome Project, March 2012. Web. November 3, 2013. Kagan, Sharon L. “Past, Present, and Future Preparedness: Shaping the Agenda.” Young Children 48.1 (1992): 48-53. Print.Sornson, Robert. “Preventing Early School Failure.” Prevent early learning failure. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2001. 177. Print."Budgeted Federal Funds for Education, by Educational Level/Purpose, Agency, and Program: Selected Fiscal Years, 1970 through 2012." Federal budgeted funds for education, by educational level/purpose, agency, and program. Digest of Education Statistics, October 2012. Web. 04 November. 2013.