Researchers have previously noted that many of the advantages children receive from preschool experiences begin to wane as they continue through school. A study by James Heckman, a Nobel-Prize winning economist shows for the first time that systematic interventions throughout childhood and adolescence could sustain the early gains and build on them…

Because programs for young people now focus on one period in a child’s life, such as preschool, or high-school, little research has been done studying a group of students receiving continued interventions systematically…

Heckman and Cunha’s work shows that the benefits of increased investments in young people come from improving both cognitive and noncognitive skills. Although preschool can have an impact on improving cognitive skills, interventions later on can improve noncognitive skills such as perseverance and self-control, they wrote.

Source: Newswise
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/525229/