The Long-Term Effects of Universal Preschool in Boston

More on Christopher Walters

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* joint with Guthrie Gray-Lobe and Parag Pathak

Abstract: We use admissions lotteries to estimate the effects of large-scale public pre-K in Boston on college-going and college completion, standardized test scores, and several non-cognitive outcomes. Pre-K enrollment boosts college-going and on-time college graduation, and decreases interaction with the criminal justice system and several school-based disciplinary measures. Pre-K enrollment has mixed effects on MCAS test outcomes, but increases SAT test-taking and high school graduation. Our findings illustrate possibilities for large-scale modern, public pre-K and highlight the importance of measuring long-term outcomes in evaluating the effectiveness of education programs.