The expansion of publicly-funded preschool education is currently the focus of a prominent debate. The research brief “Investing in Our Future: The Evidence Base on Preschool Education,” authored by an interdisciplinary group of early childhood experts, reviews rigorous evidence on why early skills matter, which children benefit from preschool, the short- and longterm effects of preschool programs on children’s school readiness and life outcomes, the importance of program quality, and the costs versus benefits of preschool education. (author abstract)