Final answer:
The prompt outlines the importance of early intervention for children who are neglected, especially from low-income households. Without timely and informed interventions, such as language development programs, these children may not catch up to their peers. This can lead to a lifelong achievement gap, affecting future education and employability.
Step-by-step explanation:
Once children are neglected - which happens very early - they do not catch up unless intervention is intensive, timely, and well informed. Various factors contribute to this early gap in achievement, particularly among children from low-income households. These children often face obstacles such as lower standardized test scores, lower graduation rates, less access to technology, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood education. Research has indicated that without proper intervention, such as the efforts made at the University of Chicago to engage low-income families and improve language development through specialized preschools, these children may face lifelong disadvantages.
Interventions aimed at decreasing the achievement gap must be holistic, addressing not only academic learning but also e-readiness and technological proficiency. This is crucial in a world increasingly reliant on technology, where a gap in digital skills can severely impact future employability. Furthermore, understanding and supporting early childhood education is essential not only for the children directly affected but for the well-being of society as a whole.