What’s next for early childhood education? The Nation’s Bryce Covert talks with Dana Goldstein and Melissa Lazarin about the policy and politics of universal preschool.

When President Obama floated the idea of providing universal preschool in his State of the Union address, he opened the door for a fresh discussion about the value of early education in America. What challenges do advocates face in getting such a proposal passed into law? What’s so important about quality preschooling, anyway? The Nation‘s Bryce Covert chats with journalist Dana Goldstein and the Center for American Progress’s Melissa Lazarín on the policy, politics and future of preschool.

—James Cersonsky

Obama also made a push for increasing the minimum wage in his State of the Union address. Check out Josh Eidelson’s analysis.