Researchers know that prekindergarten offers short term benefits - kids do better in the early grades if they’ve gone to Pre-K. But the effects seem to fade by about the third grade. In this episode: new research into this fade out effect.

Researchers paired student data from a statewide Pre-K experiment with records of teacher observation scores from Tennessee’s new formal evaluation program. Their idea was a simple one - would a student’s access to high-quality early grade teachers help the Pre-K effects last longer?

Guest: Walker Swain, University of Georgia

Guest Host: Anna Gassman-Pines, Duke Center for Child & Family Policy

The so-called “migrant caravan” has grabbed worldwide headlines. Approximately 3,000 people are walking toward the Southern U.S. border from a variety of countries. The caravan appears to have originated in Honduras, and the travelers say they are headed north for many reasons including fear of violence and gangs in their home countries. Many questions surround who the migrants are, and how the U.S. should deal with them.

Sarah Bermeo has been following the situation closely. She is a political economist at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University with expertise in foreign policy, development and migration. Bermeo is author of the book, Targeted Development – Industrialized Country Strategy in a Globalizing World.

Earlier this week, a gunman opened fire at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Authorities say the gunman made hateful, anti-Semitic comments on social media before the attack. David Schanzer is Director of the Duke Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security. He calls the attack an act of “Trumpism-inspired Terrorism."