Choice Versus Accommodation: Cultural, Family, and Child Factors in Family Pre-K Decision Making

• In Event: 64.086 - MTCC Roundtable Session 27
  In Roundtable Session: 64.086-6 - Access to Childcare

Abstract

This paper draws from a mixed-method study examining how parents make decisions about public preK in a midwestern city. 556 parents completed a survey and 55 parents participated in semi-structured interviews. Using multinomial logistic regression and interview analysis, the decisions across different preK sites were predicted by parental resources, beliefs on early childhood education, and practical considerations. We found that parents make preK choices through (a) their social capital, and contextual opportunities, (b) their beliefs and values about education and their children's future success, and (c) accommodating schedules imposed by their jobs.

Authors

• Mary Elizabeth (Beth) Graue, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Moonjoo Woo, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Jiyeon Lee, University of Wisconsin - Madison