The New York Times published a letter to the editor written by Professor of Government P. Gary Wyckoff as the leadoff response to “Class Matters. Why Won’t We Admit It?” in its Dec. 22 editorial section titled “Reducing Inequality in Our Schools.” Wyckoff praised the original article, which analyzed the relationship between economic advantage and student performance.

He compared our current educational policies as being “like a requirement that all children clear the same height in the high jump, regardless of their stature.” Wyckoff suggested that instituting a national universal prekindergarten program would “help to close the achievement gap” for the poor.