Nearly 50 years and more than $180 million after LBJ launched it, the Head Start program has yet to significantly, some say measurably, improve children’s lives. But that’s not stopping Barack Obama from trying to extend the program – and the hand of the federal government – even closer to the cradle. Recently, he touted his universal pre-k plan, claiming that “it works for our kids” and “provides a vital support system for working parents.” In reality, studies show that kids who spend longer hours in daycare fare more poorly than those who spend more time under maternal care. But this fact hardly helps Obama’s real goal: getting kids under government teaching from “cradle to career.” A head start, indeed – straight to statism.

Lest you imagine any altruism in Obama’s move, consider that his administration is targeting states that have adopted school choice programs. Recently, Obama’s Department of Justice went after Louisiana and Wisconsin, citing threats to desegregation and non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, respectively. These states give parents and students non-public school options, effectively stripping government of its primary forum for indoctrinating the young. Coincidence? We think not.