3-175 - Racial and Ethnic Inequalities in Early Care and Education: Insights from the ECLS-B

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Federal investments in comprehensive, nationally-representative studies create unique opportunities for research. Particularly fruitful are those that bridge disciplinary boundaries to study complex child and family inequalities that threaten well-being. The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) represents a blending of fields by bringing together interests from maternal-child health, child development, and education. Unique features of the ECLS-B include its prospective design following children recruited at birth through kindergarten entry, the collection of data from multiple contexts and on multiple developmental domains, and an oversampling of important cultural and linguistic minority groups including Native American and Chinese children.
A priority for ECLS-B was understanding transitions to out-of-home care. This symposium brings together three longitudinal investigations to understand within- and between-group inequalities in access to, use of, and benefits from early care experiences for children from diverse backgrounds. The first paper examined language and ethnic differences related to child care setting type and the quality of care children receive. The second used an accommodations framework to study specific child care patterns for children of Mexican immigrant families. A third study with Native American children documented patterns of familial characteristics and preferences that relate to early care experiences.
The discussant, a project officer for the ECLS at the National Center for Education Statistics, will reflect on the diverse perspectives presented and suggest how future research can continue to capitalize on this important data resource to understand inequalities for vulnerable populations.

Sub Unit

• School Readiness/Childcare

Chair

• Heather L Rouse, Iowa State University - Human Development and Family Studies

Discussant

• Gail Mulligan, National Center for Education Statistics

Individual Presentations

• Ethnic and Language Differences in Infant/Toddler Early Care and Education Experiences - Presenting Author: Iheoma U. Iruka, University of Nebraska Buffett Early Childhood Institute

• Early Care and Education among Children of Mexican Immigrants: An Accommodations Perspective - Presenting Author: Elizabeth Ackert, University of Texas at Austin; Robert Ressler, University of Texas at Austin; Arya Ansari, University of Virginia; Robert Crosnoe, University of Texas Austin

• Early Care and School Readiness for American Indian and Alaska Native Children - Presenting Author: Heather L Rouse, Iowa State University - Human Development and Family Studies; Quentin Hoage Riser, Iowa State University; Ji Young Choi, Iowa State University