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

Jordan S. Berne, Brian A. Jacob, Tareena Musaddiq, Anna Shapiro and Christina Weiland

No 32236, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is a relatively recent entrant into the U.S. 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 3rd grade test scores. Using an augmented regression discontinuity design, we find that TK improves 3rd grade math scores by 0.29 standard deviations relative to a counterfactual that includes other formal and informal learning options. This impact is notably large relative to the prior pre-K literature. Estimates for English Language Arts (ELA) are imprecise but suggestive of a positive effect as well.

JEL-codes: I20 I21 I24 I28 J01 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024-03
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Published as Jordan Berne & Brian Jacob & Tareena Musaddiq & Anna Shapiro & Christina Weiland, 2024. "The Effect of Early Childhood Programs on Third-Grade Test Scores: Evidence from Transitional Kindergarten in Michigan," AEA Papers and Proceedings, vol 114, pages 480-485.

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