Table 1

Descriptive Statistics and Balance Tests on Key Variables, by Program Type: Full Sample

UniversalTargetedUniversal–Targeted
Ineligible Mean [SD]
(1)		DD Coeff. (SE)
(2)		Ineligible Mean [SD]
(3)		DD Coeff. (SE)
(4)		DDD Coeff. (SE)
(5)
Panel A: Treatment Variable
Prekindergartena0.0520.211
(0.047)		0.0910.114
(0.033)		0.097
(0.048)
Panel B: Background Characteristics
Age in monthsa48.525
[3.160]		−0.099
(0.060)		48.235
[3.316]		−0.093
(0.051)		−0.006
(0.055)
Female0.4630.078
(0.046)		0.521−0.007
(0.044)		0.085
(0.047)
Black non-Hispanic0.2060.042
(0.033)		0.2010.026
(0.029)		0.015
(0.035)
Hispanic0.196−0.034
(0.039)		0.255−0.021
(0.033)		−0.014
(0.036)
Low birth weight0.0740.022
(0.014)		0.0790.015
(0.012)		0.007
(0.014)
Maternal education ≤ HSa0.4450.022
(0.042)		0.468−0.031
(0.045)		0.053
(0.042)
Both biological parents in HHa0.704−0.052
(0.038)		0.6920.045
(0.035)		−0.097
(0.041)
Not English at homea0.152−0.010
(0.031)		0.160−0.008
(0.026)		−0.002
(0.030)
Family income ≤ 185% FPLa0.473−0.092
(0.043)		0.451−0.064
(0.043)		−0.028
(0.045)
Panel C: p-Value: Joint Test
All background characteristics0.010.170.26
Excluding poverty0.320.400.27
Observationsb3003,4004003,9507,350

  • Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) of children born in calendar year 2001, “Children’s Birth Certificates” (collection at nine months), “Parent–Guardian Interviews,” “Direct Child Assessments,” and “Early Care and Education Providers” (collection at 48 months).

  • Notes: Odd-numbered columns give means for respondents in treatment states ineligible for pre-K in 2005–2006 [standard deviations for nonbinary variables]. Even-numbered columns give DD coefficients (standard errors) on the interaction between a dummy for being eligible for pre-K in 2005–2006 and a dummy for residing in a treatment state (elig × treat) from a separate regression that also includes dummies for state of residence, month × year of assessment, and month age five relative to the state kindergarten entry cutoff birth date in 2006–2007. See Online Appendix Tables 1 and 2 for lists of universal, targeted, and comparison states. A child is eligible for kindergarten in 2006–2007 if they turned age five in time to start kindergarten in fall 2006, given their date of birth and the kindergarten entry age regulations in effect in 2006–2007 reported by Barnett et al. (2007). Sample is limited to children who turn age five between four months after and eight months before the cutoff date and who were assessed during the 2005–2006 school year. Means and regressions are weighted by longitudinal sampling weights, and standard errors (in parentheses) are clustered on state × month of birth.

  • ↵aMeasured at preschool age (Wave 3), or in 2005–2006.

  • ↵bRounded to the nearest 50, per IES guidelines.