Cover -- Front Matter -- Preface -- Contents -- Tables, Boxes, and Figures -- Executive Summary -- 1 Introduction -- 2 What Does the Science of Learning Contribute to Early Childhood Pedagogy? -- 3 The Importance of Individual and Cultural Variations -- 4 Preschool Program Quality -- 5 Curriculum and Pedagogy: The What and the How of Early Childhood Education -- 6 Assessment in Early Childhood Education -- 7 The Preparation of Early Childhood Professionals -- 8 Program and Practice Standards -- 9 Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations -- Appendix: Scientific Evidence -- References -- Biographical Sketches -- Index.