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Research ArticleArticle

One Step at a Time

The Effects of an Early Literacy Text-Messaging Program for Parents of Preschoolers

Benjamin N. York, Susanna Loeb and Christopher Doss
Journal of Human Resources, July 2019, 54 (3) 537-566; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.54.3.0517-8756R
Benjamin N. York
Benjamin N. York is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of ParentPowered Technologies. Susanna Loeb is the Director of the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, Professor of Education and International and Public Affairs. Christopher Doss is an Associate Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation.
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Susanna Loeb
Benjamin N. York is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of ParentPowered Technologies. Susanna Loeb is the Director of the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, Professor of Education and International and Public Affairs. Christopher Doss is an Associate Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation.
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Christopher Doss
Benjamin N. York is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of ParentPowered Technologies. Susanna Loeb is the Director of the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, Professor of Education and International and Public Affairs. Christopher Doss is an Associate Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation.
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  • For correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

Large systematic differences in young children’s home learning experiences have long-term economic consequences. Many parenting programs place significant demands on parents’ time and inundate parents with information. This study evaluates the effects of READY4K!, an eight-month-long text-messaging intervention for parents of preschoolers that targets the behavioral barriers to engaged parenting. We find that READY4K! increased parental involvement at home and school by 0.15 to 0.29 standard deviations, leading to child gains in early literacy of about 0.11 standard deviations. The results point to the salience of behavioral barriers to parenting and the potential for low-cost interventions to reduce these barriers.

JEL Classification
  • C93
  • D91
  • I21
  • Received May 2017.
  • Accepted November 2017.
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Journal of Human Resources: 54 (3)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 54, Issue 3
1 Jul 2019
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One Step at a Time
Benjamin N. York, Susanna Loeb, Christopher Doss
Journal of Human Resources Jul 2019, 54 (3) 537-566; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.54.3.0517-8756R

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One Step at a Time
Benjamin N. York, Susanna Loeb, Christopher Doss
Journal of Human Resources Jul 2019, 54 (3) 537-566; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.54.3.0517-8756R
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Cited By...

  • Implementing Home-Based Educational Interventions at Scale
  • Testing
  • Reducing Parent-School Information Gaps and Improving Education Outcomes: Evidence from High-Frequency Text Messages
  • Using Behavioral Insights to Increase Parental Engagement: The Parents and Children Together Intervention
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Keywords

  • C93
  • D91
  • I21
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