Education in the United States is free and compulsory for 0 years, beginning at age and culminating at age 16

Early Childhood Education/Preschool

Early childhood education, or preschool, is provided throughout the United States. Although this is an optional, non-obligatory stage of education, the majority of U.S. children now begin their educations prior to entering elementary school at age six, and most states now require enrollment in pre-school programs and provide such programs for the children in their state. There are also thousands of non-public preschools scattered throughout the United States, operated by churches and other private entities. These programs generally require parents to pay tuition in exchange for the education they provide.
Pre-school programs usually occur in the year preceding school entry and sometimes the previous year as well, or around ages 3-5. The first year of pre-school education is often called pre-kindergarten or nursery school, while the second year is often called kindergarten or preschool. Just fewer than one million children currently enroll in the first year of pre-school education each year, and some 3.4 million enroll in the second year.
During the initial year of preschool education, children typically attend school for two to three days a week, usually for a period of 3-4 hours. In the second year, or in kindergarten, the instruction is a bit more rigorous and the time commitment is longer, with children attending school five days a week for 4-5 hours a day.
The 3-5 age range is considered a professional and research specialization for educators in the United States. Thus, U.S. instructors of early childhood education are generally very well-educated and highly trained, typically possessing a Bachelor degree or higher and a teaching certificate issued by the state in which they live and work. While the exact curriculum taught at preschools may vary from one state to the next, the goals of those curricula are typically very similar. Preschools aim to provide a developmental approach to learning, one emphasizing language and literacy, as well as physical, emotional and social development. Students are also introduced to basic concepts in the areas of math, science, social studies, music, movement and art. As a whole, these literacy-focused and problem solving programs provide teachers with all the tools they need to offer effective instruction--instruction built around the concept of cooperative learning within a carefully designed and supportive structure. To ensure the effectiveness of these programs, extensive training and support for teachers is not only offered, but integral to ongoing curriculum implementation.