In his September announcement, Bezos stated his intent to build a "network of high-quality, full-scholarship, Montessori-inspired preschools."
Few cities are more deserving of this program than Detroit, whose public schools are frequently deemed the worst in the country. The city consistently ranks last among major cities according to its national test results, which have fallen dramatically since they were last recorded in 2015.
This failure is the result of multiple systemic factors, including poverty, overcrowded classrooms, and a school district teetering on bankruptcy. With a scholarship program from Bezos, Detroit could perhaps break the cycle of poor education that currently plagues its students.
The Day One Fund might also help to address a significant health hazard in Detroit: exposure to lead in public schools, which can cause brain and nervous system damage, and, in extreme cases, death.
Just days after Bezos announced his One Day Fund, the Detroit Public Schools Community District revealed that at least 57 public schools had tested positive for high levels of lead in their drinking water. The list included a number of pre-kindergarten programs.