Final answer:
Early childhood education programs, like the Head Start program, help pre-K children prepare for school by advancing cognitive and social skills. They are crucial for setting educational and social foundations, although their long-term effectiveness may vary.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of program that helps pre-K children prepare to enter school, both socially and cognitively, is early childhood education, such as the Head Start program. These programs are essential, as they lay the groundwork for children's future academic and social success. Not only do they focus on improving children's cognitive skills such as counting, color recognition, and understanding basic time concepts, but they also play a crucial role in socialization. This is where children learn social norms, such as keeping their hands to themselves, standing in line, and working together.
Early childhood education programs are especially vital as they are considered to be the new kindergarten, setting the academic and social foundation expected of today's kindergarteners. However, it's important to acknowledge that the quality and long-term effectiveness of these programs can vary. Noteworthy is the 2016 study from Vanderbilt University, which found that the benefits of Tennessee's state-funded pre-K program for low-income preschoolers were not sustained past the first year of school. Despite this, programs like Head Start continue to provide critical resources for families with limited financial and educational means, with the goal of fostering human capital development from an early age.