PreK children’s readiness to learn: Potential influence of state Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) policies

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 1:45 pm - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Policy, Inclusion and Accessibility for Vulnerable Children

Abstract

This study explores potential influences of state level policies for the distribution of Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) funds on the readiness of children aged 3-5 to begin school. It examines three stepwise proportional odds logit models to examine influences of CCDF policies, child level and family characteristics on the odds that children aged 3-5 surveyed from 2018-2022 in four midwestern states by the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) would be on track to start elementary school. Three CCDF policies are predicted to have a statistically significant influence on the odds of school readiness for children aged 3-5. Child and family level variables were also found to influence the odds that children were predicted to be on track.

Author

• Ryan Belew, University of Missouri - Kansas City