"This important work is sure to be discussed for a long time. While focusing on social reform in six countries, there are abundant insights and implications for our work in the USA. The authors’ identification of 15 building blocks of high-performing ECEC systems offers us a brilliant analysis as we work to accelerate our nation’s progress. While my organization's focus is on those building blocks related to knowledgeable, supported, and well-compensated teachers, the other building blocks offer essential frameworks required to achieve that vision. The book clearly breaks new ground in systems thinking about ECEC."

Valora Washington, CEO, Council for Professional Recognition, and Founder, CAYL Institute

“The Early Advantage is a seminal resource for crafting timely new approaches to needed social policy reforms. Kagan and her co-authors bring keen insights, pathbreaking cross-national scholarship, and practical guidance for leaders who wish to build a world-class early education for all children. Nested in sharp analytical case studies of best-in-class Nordic, Asian, and Anglo approaches to early education, Kagan and her co-authors have crafted a dynamic and strategic blueprint for action, starting now!"

Michael Levine, Chief Knowledge Officer, Sesame Workshop

"The last decade has seen unprecedented growth in early childhood education and care, but an insufficient knowledge base of what makes provision effective has left services fragmented and policymakers clueless about how to target scarce resources. The Early Advantage fills this gap, scanning the globe for what works best in what context and at scale, and establishing a systemic understanding of the pillars that underpin success."

Andreas Schleicher, OECD Directorate of Education and Skills

"Framing their learnings from multiple countries into a skillfully designed set of inputs and outputs, the authors have provided a systems perspective to effective early childhood programs. This is a must-read for those engaged in city-, state-, and countrywide work of building programs that work for young children."

Jacqueline Jones, Foundation for Child Development

"With notable depth and breadth, this book pushes the thinking on the quality of early childhood systems and reflects on what it takes to build systems that are equitable, efficient, and sustainable. It is a timely reflection for policymakers in Latin America, the Caribbean, and elsewhere."

M. Caridad Araujo, Inter-American Development Bank

"This essential work illustrates how nations can provide quality early education and care to young children through exemplary approaches from around the world. A vital resource from the leading global experts in the field, it is a must-read for all those seeking to meet the joys and challenges of advancing the development of their youngest citizens."

Linda Darling-Hammond, Stanford University

"Distilling lessons from six global examples of successful early childhood care and education systems, Kagan and colleagues provide a wealth of practical guidance for policymakers and practitioners worldwide interested in achieving quality early childhood policies and programs at national scale."

Hirokazu Yoshikawa, New York University

"Kagan and her team describe a field at a very important inflection point, and they provide a framework for pushing on to the next stage. My guess is that this book will be remembered not just for incisive reporting and analysis, but as the book the field needed to get to the other side of that inflection point."

Marc Tucker, National Center on Education and the Economy