Family Selection of Early Childhood Education: Relationships With Needs, Preference, and Ethnoracial Characteristics

• In Event: Poster Session 1: Parents and Families in Early Childhood

Abstract

In response to early and persistent education achievement gaps among children from marginalized background groups, cities and states are rapidly expanding publicly funded early childhood education programs. Philadelphia is one such city. While progress is being made, access to high-quality pre-kindergarten is not yet a reality for all children in Philadelphia. As the city continues to expand the number of seats provided to students, they seek to ensure that the expansion meets the needs of families. Informed by existing research on parental decision-making for prekindergarten and using survey data from PHLpreK’s 2018 enrollment application, this study examines the roles played by (1) family needs, (2) family resources, and (3) family preferences and cultural norms, to inform ongoing expansion efforts.

Authors

• Jasmine Forde

• Mary-Louise Leger, University of California - Los Angeles

• Joanna Grace Sullivan, The University of Kansas

• Larry Thi