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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) says “The period from birth to eight years old is one of remarkable brain development for children.” The organization adds that it represents an important time for their development and education. 

联合国教育、科学及文化组织（教科文组织）表示：“从出生到八岁是儿童大脑发育的黄金时期。” 该组织补充说，这对于他们的发展和教育来说是一个重要的时期。 

The U.S. National Institutes of Health says that supporting children’s early learning can lead to higher test scores and a better chance of staying in school and going to college. Studies even suggest early learning can lead to fewer teen pregnancies, improved mental health, and a longer life. 

美国国立卫生研究院表示，支持儿童的早期学习可以带来更高的考试成绩以及更好的留在学校和上大学的机会。 研究甚至表明，早期学习可以减少青少年怀孕、改善心理健康并延长寿命。

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is made up of 38 democracies with market-based economies. The organization aims to build better policies for better lives. 

经济合作与发展组织 (OECD) 由 38 个实行市场经济的民主国家组成。 该组织旨在制定更好的政策以改善生活。 

In a recent education study, the OECD found that most of its member countries provide care or education for children under 5. In countries, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Norway, Spain and Britain, at least 95 percent of 3-year-olds are enrolled in an early education program. 

在最近的一项教育研究中，经合组织发现，其大多数成员国为 5 岁以下儿童提供保育或教育。在比利时、丹麦、法国、匈牙利、冰岛、以色列、挪威、西班牙和英国等国家，至少 95% 的 3 岁儿童参加了早期教育计划。 

However, within OECD countries, there can be a large difference in enrollment. In the United States, for example, 80 percent of 3 to 5-year-olds in the capital city of Washington, D.C. are enrolled in early education programs. That is compared to 46 percent in the western state of North Dakota. 

然而，在经合组织国家内部，入学率可能存在很大差异。 例如，在美国首都华盛顿特区，80% 的 3 至 5 岁儿童都参加了早期教育项目。 相比之下，西部北达科他州的这一比例为 46%。 

The differences also exist in European countries like Greece, Lithuania, and Switzerland. Places with higher rates of women in the