School-Based Early Childhood Education and Age28 Well-Being: Effects by Timing, Dosage, and Subgroups

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This study examined the effect of an early childhood education program on educational attainment by age 28, including on-time high school graduation, high school completion, and college attendance and graduation. Researchers analyzed data from 900 individuals who completed the Child-Parent Center Education Program for preschool and kindergarten and 486 individuals from similar backgrounds who completed alternative kindergarten programs through the Chicago Effective Schools Project.

The study found positive, statistically significant differences on four outcomes related to educational attainment. Intervention group members completed 0.27 years more schooling, on average, than comparison group members. In addition, intervention group members were more likely to complete high school (82 percent versus 75 percent), graduate on time from high school (44 percent versus 37 percent), and attend a 4-year college than comparison group members (15 percent versus 11 percent). The study did not find statistically significant differences on ever attending college or receipt of a postsecondary degree.

The research described in this report meets WWC evidence standards with reservations. Individuals who attended the Child-Parent Center Education Program may have differed from individuals in the comparison group in ways not controlled for in the analysis.

Read the What Works quick review of the study.

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