Persistent Effects of Early Childhood Education on High-Risk Children and Their Mothers
Abstract
Child and mother outcomes are reported for the Abecedarian Project, an early childhood education, pediatric healthcare, and family support program for high-risk children and their mothers. Three randomized intervention conditions for at-risk participants were compared to a control condition. Randomized control group participants received family support social services, low-cost or free pediatric care, and child nutritional supplements but no additional educational program beyond what the parents and the local school system provided. The local community was generally affluent and well educated; disadvantaged families represented a small minority whose welfare was a high social and educational priority. The educational intervention conditions were (a) preschool education for the first 5 years of life plus a supplementary kindergarten through 2nd grade Educational Support Program (Preschool plus K-2 Support), (b) preschool education (Preschool Only), and (c) K-2 Educational Support Program (K-2 Only). Child outcomes were assessed with respect to cognitive development, academic achievement, grade retention, and special education placements. For mothers, the effect of having educational childcare during the preschool period was examined with respect to maternal educational gains and employment. Positive and systematic cognitive and academic achievement differences were found for children in the preschool treatment conditions, particularly when that condition was combined with the K-2 Educational Support Program. High-quality, consistently available preschool education was also associated with greater maternal educational advancement and higher levels of employment particularly for teenage mothers. These findings have direct relevance for education and welfare policies.
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In the Carolina Abecedarian Project, healthy infants at risk of academic difficulties were randomly assigned to the project or a control intervention.
“In 1972, healthy infants at risk of academic difficulties because of their demographic circumstances (eg, poor, minority, single parents) were randomly assigned to the Carolina Abecedarian Project or a control intervention”
From Education improves public health and promotes health equity (2015) · cites this paper as [40]
In the Carolina Abecedarian Project, both the preschool and the early schooling programs were beneficial in terms of academic achievement, with the preschool program having the larger effect.
“At follow-up, both the preschool and the early schooling programs were shown to be beneficial in terms of academic achievement; the preschool program had the larger effect.”
From Education improves public health and promotes health equity (2015) · cites this paper as [40]
In the Abecedarian Project, before entering kindergarten, control and experimental children were again randomized into either routine schooling or a strengthened school program complemented by home visits.
“Before entering kindergarten, control and experimental children were again randomized into either routine schooling or a strengthened school program complemented by home visits for parental guidance to reinforce child learning.”
From Education improves public health and promotes health equity (2015) · cites this paper as [40]
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- Authors
- Ramey, C. T., Campbell, F. A., Burchinal, M., Skinner, M. L., Gardner, D. M., & Ramey, S. L.
- Venue
- Applied Developmental Science
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2000-01-01
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 2-14
- ISSN
- 1088-8691 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-480X
- OpenAlex
- W1988834652
- Cited by
- 345
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 49.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Applied Developmental Science (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Early Childhood Education and Development
- Social Sciences › Education › School Choice and Performance
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Keywords
- Abecedarian Project, early childhood education, preschool education, vulnerable children, maternal education, maternal employment, cognitive development, academic performance, school retention, special education placement, educational support programs, family support services, pediatric health care, adolescent mothers, welfare policy, long-term intervention effects
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