title: Assessing policy effects on enrollment in early childhood education and care.
abstract: Although the number of children enrolled in early childhood education and care has risen dramatically over past decades, low-income children are less likely than their more affluent counterparts to participate. Public funding for early education can play an important role in increasing enrollment levels among low-income children. This study utilizes National Household Education Survey data for a 14-year period to examine the effects of public funding on the enrollment of low-income children in early childhood education and care. It also considers the effects of funding on the type of care they use. Results suggest that public funding, particularly child-care subsidies and prekindergarten funding, increases the likelihood that low-income children, even those under 3 years of age, will attend nonparental care, including center-based care. These findings indicate that public funding can help close the gap in enrollment between low- and higher-income children.
authors.affiliation: Lehman College, City University of New York.
authors.forename: Joy Pastan
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Greenberg
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002651:Child Advocacy / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D002654:Child Care / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004493:Education / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006076:Government / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D011632:Public Assistance / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011640:Public Policy / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012923:Social Class / Q000266:history; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology