AEA Papers and Proceedings
ISSN 2574-0768 (Print) | ISSN 2574-0776 (Online)
Synergistic Impacts of Expansions in Pre-K Access and School Funding on Student Achievement: Evidence from California's Transitional Kindergarten Rollout
AEA Papers and Proceedings
vol. 114,
May 2024
(pp. 467–73)
Abstract
This paper investigates the extent to which expansions in public pre-K and increases in K12 funding improve student learning trajectories and narrow achievement gaps. I link school- and student-level information on public preschool participation with longitudinal student data for all public school students in California. The research design exploits Transitional Kindergarten's (TK's) age eligibility cutoffs and the 2013–2019 staggered implementation of California's school funding reform. This quasi-experimental variation is combined to investigate interactive effects between TK attendance and school resources in elementary school. I find positive synergistic effects of TK and elementary school spending on math and reading achievement.Citation
Johnson, Rucker C. 2024. "Synergistic Impacts of Expansions in Pre-K Access and School Funding on Student Achievement: Evidence from California's Transitional Kindergarten Rollout." AEA Papers and Proceedings, 114: 467–73. DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20241079Additional 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