For a century, America’s early childhood policy has been premised on a myth. This falsehood— which
dictates that child care and education are somehow separate and distinct—not only suboptimizes the
most important window in all of human development but costs American taxpayers an untold fortune.
It’s time to think differently. Written in plain yet provocative language, by one of the field’s most
respected bipartisan policy experts, The Daycare Myth makes the case for why the early years matter;
why America’s longstanding early childhood policy approach sacrifices the needs of young children in
favor of promoting adult employment; and why fixing the problem makes good sense, regardless of your
place on the political spectrum. With straightforward guidance for policymakers, practitioners, and
parents, this timely book is a wakeup call for a nation that aspires to nothing less than the wholesale
transformation of America’s early childhood landscape.