The Differential Impact of Pre-K on Homeless, Low-Income, and Non-Disadvantaged Children

• In Event: Virtual Poster Session
  In Virtual iPresentation Only: SIG-Early Education and Child Development Virtual Poster Session

Abstract

Through analysis of administrative and report card data from one medium-sized Midwestern School-District, we found that children experiencing homelessness are twice as likely not to participate in 4K than more affluent peers. Children homeless during 4K perform about 2/3 of a standard-deviation worse on all report card measures in Kindergarten than non-disadvantaged children and about 1/3 of a standard-deviation worse than children who eat free/reduced-price lunch. These differences persist through second- grade and the size of the difference does not attenuate over time, indicating that homelessness in 4K is a significant risk factor for later school success, even after families’ housing stabilizes.

Author

• Travis S. Wright, University of Wisconsin - Madison