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  5. The Effect of Early Childhood Programs on Third-Grade Test Scores: Evidence from Transitional Kindergarten in Michigan

AEA Papers and Proceedings

ISSN 2574-0768 (Print) | ISSN 2574-0776 (Online)

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The Effect of Early Childhood Programs on Third-Grade Test Scores: Evidence from Transitional Kindergarten in Michigan

  • Jordan Berne
  • Brian Jacob
  • Tareena Musaddiq
  • Anna Shapiro
  • Christina Weiland
AEA Papers and Proceedings
vol. 114, May 2024
(pp. 480–85)
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Abstract

Transitional kindergarten (TK) is a relatively recent entrant into the US early education landscape, combining features of public pre-K and regular kindergarten. We provide the first estimates of the impact of Michigan's TK program on third-grade test scores. Using an augmented regression discontinuity design, we find that TK improves third-grade test scores by 0.29 (math) and 0.19 (English language arts) standard deviations relative to a counterfactual that includes other formal and informal early learning options. These impacts are notably large relative to the prior pre-K literature.

Citation

Berne, Jordan, Brian Jacob, Tareena Musaddiq, Anna Shapiro, and Christina Weiland. 2024. "The Effect of Early Childhood Programs on Third-Grade Test Scores: Evidence from Transitional Kindergarten in Michigan." AEA Papers and Proceedings, 114: 480–85. DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20241081

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • H75 State and Local Government: Health; Education; Welfare; Public Pensions
  • I21 Analysis of Education
  • I22 Educational Finance; Financial Aid
  • I26 Returns to Education
  • I28 Education: Government Policy