caseywest via Creative Commons

Preschooler's singing a song. Photo by Casey West via Creative Commons: http://www.flickr.com/photos/caseywest/

A Manhattan woman is suing her child's preschool because she claimed the $19,000 a year school failed to adequately prepare her child for a test that would ensure entry into an elite kindergarten. The story highlights the extremes parents are willing to go to ensure their child's academic success. But the reality is that for most families, private preschool is far out of reach. How important is preschool and what constitutes a quality education? We ask Molly Munger, an education expert at the Advancement Project, a public policy and civil rights advocacy group.