Anamarie Auger|George Farkas|Margaret Burchinal|Greg J. Duncan|Deborah Lowe Vandell
Preschool center care quality effects on academic achievement: An instrumental variables analysis.
much child care research focused effects quality care early childhood settings childrens school readiness skills although researchers increased statistical rigor approaches past 15 years researchers ability draw causal inferences limited studies based nonexperimental designs purpose present study demonstrate instrumental variables approach used estimate causal impacts preschool center care quality childrens academic achievement applied study preschool curricula randomly assigned across multiple sites used data preschool curriculum evaluation research initiative pcer n 2700 classrooms preschools randomly assigned grantees treatment curriculum business usual conditions 18 research sites using method demonstrate developmental researchers exploit randomassignment designs multisite studies investigate characteristics programs preschool center care quality cannot randomly assigned impacts childrens development found quality preschool care received children significant albeit modest effects childrens academic school readiness effect sizes 03 14 standard deviation increases academic achievement associated 1 standard deviation increase quality applications potential policy implications method discussed