Early Childhood Education Commons^™

The Differentiated Impact Of Early Entry Into Head Start On Social Competence And Literacy : An Applied Propensity Score Analysis, Kimberly Speerschneider

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Family poverty is associated with children’s health, achievement, and behavior (Brooks-Gunn & Duncan, 1997). Less than half, 48%, of children from low income homes are considered school ready by the age of five compared with 75% of their peers from middle to high income homes (Isaacs, 2012). Researchers have linked school readiness to long-term outcomes like success in grade school, lower drop-out rates in high school, and higher earned income as adults (Duncan et al., 2007). Although children in poverty experience greater deficits in areas of school readiness, participation in a quality childhood education can serve as a protective buffer …