Who and for How Long: The Importance of Extended Early Education Access for Low-Income Families

• In Event: Exploring the Impacts of U.S. Pre-K and Kindergarten Policies

Abstract

Longitudinal data collected throughout four years of developmental screenings by a large, national private provider were reviewed to determine patterns of growth over time for children receiving government subsidies and their peers with privately paid tuitions (22,277 children total). Results show that while both groups saw growth over time over and above what is expected for typical development, income-related developmental gaps persisted and slightly widened over years of program enrollment. This suggests that from an equity lens, policies aimed towards shorter-term, universal access to early childhood education should be matched with support for longer-term access for children from low-income families.

Authors

• Rita Yelverton, KinderCare Education

• Amy Nash-Kille, KinderCare Education

• Priscilla Carver, KinderCare Education